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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Ken Dorney, post: 3254112, member: 76086&quot;]While I sold off most of my collection of ancient Chinese coins over a decade ago, I did keep under 100 or so of them.&nbsp; I have many favorites, some incredibly rare or unique and some common (and some in between).&nbsp; But I still love them all.&nbsp; Below is one of them.</p><p><br /></p><p>Following the fall of the Eastern Jin Dynasty began a tumultuous period now known as the Southern Dynasties.&nbsp; The Liu Song Dynasty was the first in this period and is remarkable for its ‘colorful’ characters, despots and revolts.&nbsp; Spanning just under 60 years it saw six emperors, most of which reigned for only a couple of years.&nbsp; Emperor Xiaowu, previously known as Liu Jun, was just one of these individuals.&nbsp; </p><p><br /></p><p>Xiaowu came to power after his older brother Liu Shao assassinated their father, Emperor Wen.&nbsp; Although he had deflected blame for the death of his father to another, be was despised and untrusted and a power struggle immediately ensued where Xiaowu was victorious.</p><p><br /></p><p>Controversy was immediate in Xiaowu’s reign.&nbsp; He had engaged in incestuous relationships with his uncles daughters.&nbsp; Enraged, his uncle fomented a rebellion in the provinces, a tenuous one which failed.&nbsp; Various factors contributed to the failure, and one was a general who was so often drunk that he met his demise in battle when he fell off his horse and was killed in a stupor.</p><p><br /></p><p>The history of this period is complex, with many characters and family members involved, most of which seem to have been engaged in either active or passive rebellion in one form or another.&nbsp; At some point it became public knowledge that Xiaowu was in yet another incestuous relationship with his very own mother and public opinion began to take its toll and erode his support.&nbsp; After one rebellious battle the emperor had the majority of the population of one supporting city executed, reportedly in a cruel and inhumane manner.</p><p><br /></p><p>Xiaowu was a famous drunk and was rarely seen sober.&nbsp; His drinking prowess however is reported to be one of the reasons for his endurance.&nbsp; He was often seen passed out, but when roused was always able to recover quickly and seemingly without ill effect.&nbsp; He was greatly feared and although his reign was known for rebellion and discontent he died passively.&nbsp; </p><p><br /></p><p><b>Liu Song Dynasty, Emperor Xiaowu, 454 – 464 AD</b></p><p>Æ 4 Zhu, 19mm, .98 grams</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Obverse:</b>&nbsp; Xiao Jian.</p><p><b>Reverse:</b>&nbsp; Si Zhu.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>References:</b></p><p>Hartill 13.4-6</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]854591[/ATTACH][/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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