CHINA pointed tip knife
$400.00
CHINA, STATE OF YAN, ZHOU Dynasty 1122-255 BC, pointed tip knife, no date (circa 600-400 BC), Obverse: LIU (#6), Reverse: no legend, bronze, 20x151mm, 13.64g, H4.16, patina was removed to reveal the character, VF
1 in stock
Description
The pointed tip knives are known with many inscriptions and a wide weight range of 11 to 16 grams.
Zhou dynasty was a confederation of little kingdoms with a figurehead Emperor. Various constituent states started using money in their commercial activities. Odd shaped coins such as spade knife ant nose yibi and possible money items like fish and cicada money were followed by the early round coins.
The oldest Chinese coins are at least as old as the earliest Greek coins. The Chinese coinage system differed from other systems in two ways. It was monometallic only bronze coins circulated in general commerce. Gold and silver were treated as commodities. And the manufacturing method was by casting in moulds rather than by striking heated solid planchets. The main reference I use in attributing and describing these coins is the book: Chinese Cast Coins by David Hartill.
