Lot 5672

Description

China, Hsin Dynasty, Wang Mang Interregnum, huo-pu 'The pu currency', spade money, height 60mm, width 24mm, (45 B.C. - 23 A.D.), (Hartill 9.30) (5); assorted similar smaller issues known as the 10 spades issued from 10-14 A.D., these could be modern copies and have values from 100 - 1000 on them, they include (Hartill 9.20 (very small), 9.21, 9.22, 9.23, 9.24, 9.25, 9.26, 9.27, 9.28 (illustrated), 9.29. All with green and dirt encrustation, smaller issues rare, mostly fine - very fine. (15)

Wang Mang was a nephew of the Dowager Empress Wang, and during his time as her regent he usurped the throne, and founded the Xin Dynasty. He introduced a number of currency reforms which met with varying degrees of success. During the third reform, in AD 10, Wang Mang issued the "Ten Spades" series and according to the History of Han: "The people became bewildered and confused, and these coins did not circulate. They secretly used Wu Zhu coins for their purchases (see Hartill for further details).