Tang Dynasty. Emperor Gao Zong 高宗 (Li Zhi). Qian Feng Quan Bao. Hartill 14.100. Very Scarce. I personally liked this coin not so much for its scarcity or the Emperor but rather his Empress, the future Emperor Wu Zetian 武则天。Minted as an economic measure to address shortage of circulating cash, each was supposed to be an equivalent of 10 Kai Yuan Tong Bao despite having similar dimensions. Naturally this led to extensive forgery and thus it was discontinued within a year. During this time, the true power behind the throne was the Empress Wu Zetian. A remarkably cunning and capable woman, she managed to rise above tradition and political intrigues to become the only official female Emperor in China's history. Her reign was also effective and she managed to further extend China's influence and power leaving a strong foundation that would eventually lead to one of the Tang Dynasty golden age
Wasn't her position the same as the empress dowager Cixi of Qing dynasty? They both succeeded their husband, and reigned in place of their children.
Completely different. Cixi never assumed the role of Emperor. She was no doubt defacto ruler but unofficially. Empress Wu on the other hand officially assumed the role as an Emperor and actually changed the Dynasty name into Zhou. The Tang Dynasty quickly resumed upon her abdication later in life
Thanks.. Empress Wu is truly a remarkable woman. To overcome all confucian Tradition and opposition to rise to that position.. only once in China's history. It also proves just how modern and free the Tang Dynasty was... Truly if I get a chance to go back in time, I would love to visit that era again
another cool coin LS...when i see "tang coin", this is the first thing that comes to mind...and the only coin i have from that neck of the woods.
Not a collecting area I'm into but I do happen to have one Chinese cash coin: Tang Dynasty, Imperial China AE 1 Cash coin Obv: 開 元 通 寶 , Kai Yuan Tong Bao ("The Currency of the K'ai-yuan Period" or "The Inaugural Currency") , top-beneath-right-left of central hole Rev: Square central hole Mint: (don't know; struck 718-732, the "middle period") Ref: Hartill 14.3 Size: 24 mm wide, 3.30 gr
Nice specimen. This would be a middle period variant. Notice the longer first stroke on the 元 and the 井 touching the rim.
Unfortunately not for the common variants. Only once there was a Tang issue called the Huichang Kai Yuan that had mint names included. That was a late Tango issue and was of poor quality. An example as attached
@Loong Siew Did Wu herself ever mint coins? I haven't been able to find any information on it in my internet searching (there are no coins of hers on acsearch, for instance). I went to her mausoleum near Xi'an last year, which was a pretty incredible place, and I've been fascinated with her story since.
Unfortunately not. She was pragmatic. During her reign she continued the minting of the incumbent Tang model n currency KYTB
Back in 2016, I posted about the only female Emperor of China. Given the coins rarity and her personality, I resigned to the fact that itnwould be my only specimen.. 6 years later, I am happy and fortunate to finally obtain a second specimen albeit not as good a condition as my original. But nonetheless here it is..
