Zhou Dynasty (Spring-Autumn period) Needle-tip knife money. With a moon 月(?) Symbol. 600-400BC. Attributed to the state of Yan 燕。 These were unknown until around 1932 when a hoard was found in Cheng De. Believed to be used for trading with the Huns (Xiongnu) who inhabited the region. Due to its obvious design limitations most have broken tips and thus proved impractical and not in use very soon. Intact specimens thus are quite a challenge to find and preserve.
Wow Loong-S ... those are super cool (400-600 BC, eh?) => hey, that's right around the same time that those sweet Lydia AR Siglos were popping-up (wow, coin collecting is very cool) Ummm, but these amazing knife-coins pose an obvious problem if you were a lone cashier working at a poorly lit market ... "Ummm sorry mister, but you owe me one more dagger"
THANKS.... but trust me.. the tip will break before u can even prick a finger. . They're a bit small and delicate. .
I think they are incredible....but due to their fragility (as you state), I wonder why they were considered and utilized at all??? It brings to mind the impractical shapes tried elsewhere---cup-shaped, squares, rectangles etc etc---that were ultimately abandoned for the more universally utilized 'round coins' we are all familiar with today. Were they a 'special issue' or a 'Imperial Commemorative' of some kind?? Pardon me if i missed that clarification in a previous thread or post. Either way, I love them for their uniqueness---and their antiquity!
No.. these were not commemorative coins. As per hartill's notes, they were believed to be traded with the Xiongnu who were regarded as barbarians at the time. It is likely that the Yan kingdom felt that something of an inferior or impractical form of currency may be befitting or deliberate? So far I am not sure and have yet to come across a record that specifies why.. But the knives and spades for instance were an evolution of actual practical spades and knives used as barter in the very early days. The earliest spades were large and actually have an inlet that allows it to function as a practical spade although a smaller portable one. Similarly for knives coins. It is probably through an evolution of Commerce that later generations decided to do away with their actual application/uses and trade for the worth of their metal as well as an actual currency through the smaller & stylized coins that we know..
Im assuming the holes were so you could string these up in the same way you would string cash coins? If so, I could imagine someone in northern China being late to the trading market, running, and then slipping on a piece of ice and well....he died the way he loved to live, clutching a stringful of sharp knife coins.
This is an interesting thread. What material was used for these coins? Also, are there pictures with another coin so we can see and appreciate the size of the knife coin? Thank you for this post.
When new, I am sure these could cause some pain if used as a small weapon to gouge. Imagine 4 of these strung together and protruding between the fingers of a fist...........a little like the character wolverine. People are trained to hold their keys this way for self defense purposes. Not very effective but better than a bare fist. These sharp curved points could do some damage me thinks. Far more than a set of keys. Not suggesting this is how they were used, but I can see the appeal of this shape to some. No weapons allowed........ok........but surely you can't prohibit the carrying of currency.
Loong Siew I have a variant of the type that had a squared off end. If you have any info on it I would appreciate it. I've had this coin for a long time, before internet and had forgotten about it until your post. Its not in the best of shape and very fragile. Forgive the old photos.
Yes.. The holes were meant to be strung along..but they are definitely not sharp.. Pointed yes but won't cut you
@WDF .. yours would most likely be a Ming Knife.. I see a faint design of a crescent and a circle.. if so then it is as follows
cool ... yah, it's 10 x as impressive with the scale tossed-in (good call) really cool actually (nice one, Loong-S)
