Coinage of Asia
The coinage of Asia can be described as starting with Chinese cash coinage issued only in base coins from the Zhou period of China until 1912, when the Ming dynasty was overthrown. And the coinage of India, that started in the 7th century BCE by small native states. The most famous ruler, Asoka of the Mauryan Empire in India, issued coins of silver. The last would be the coinage of Achaemenid Empire which has some relation to Lydian coinage of the 6th century BCE, Greek coinage also has some relation to Lydian coinage. The Persians issuesd silver Siglos and gold Darics. Coinage of the Middle east, laterPersia(330+) and Egypt are based on Greek coinage.
Many other nations adopted coinage either from Chinese coinage or other influences (like Kushan coins) or independently Khmer Empire).
Cash coinage
China
Cash or base metal coins of the various Chinese Empires was first believed to be issued in the 7th century. Before what numismatists call true money was issued, cowrie shells and replicas as well as Bridge Dragon money filled the need as a barter exchange.
The first issues weren't coins like those we know today but were replicas of Hoe's issued by mints or states that we don't know much about. Then came the knife currency; both Hoe and Knife were issued in large and small sizes. They were also from study issued at different times and in different places, but who issued them is a mystery. Numismatists and Archaeologists don't believe that the Zhou royal family had much to do with their issuance. It was only since the direct contact with European traders that silver coins were used1, slowly replacing the Sycee system of weighing silver and gold.
These coins were called Mon and were also based on the Chinese coinage system. Issued around the 672 and modeled on cash coinage during the reign of Empirer Temmu. The coins from this date are very rare. See Japanese mon.
Issues based on the Chinese wen were issued from 1888-1892 of 1Warn = 1000Mun or cash. Replaces in 1892 with 1Warn = 5 Yang.
Amman
Indonesian states
These coins were mainly issued by the Hakka bassed GonSi and Islamic sultunates all over the Indonesian archipelago based mainly on the chinese cash coinage.
Funan, Dvaravat and Khmer Empires
Not much is known of the currency of the Funan, Dvaravati,Chenla or Kambuja in Cambodian and Khmer Empire from 100-1370ce. The origin of the coins may be based on ancient Indian coinage that has been more stylised over the millennia. Funan and Dvaravat coins were silver and bronzeor brass. Khmer coins were made of lead and came in 3 weights, 1unit, 3unit and 6unit, a 10unit coin may exist but is debatable. There is not much variation to these coins when compared to Indian coinage,Roman coinage or Greek coins.
Indian
The first Indian coins were either round, square or long sticks of silver with punch marks issued under various kingdoms starting from 600bce onwards. Issuers include Kashi, Kosala, Magadha Empire, Kuru, Panchala, Taxila, Gandhara, Kamboja, Avanti (India) in the Narbada Valley, Saurashtra Peninsula and Eastern Deccan. But the first coins issued by a unified Indian Kingdom were issued by Mauryan Empire. They were similar to the older issue. During the 4th century, after the conquest of Alexander the Great, Greek currency the Drachma was introduced and was carried on by Bactria, Indo-Scythians, Kushans etc. All these were of the Attica weight standard.
See also
- Chinese tael
- Chinese wen
- Chinese yuan
- Indian coinage
- Achaemenid currency
- Seleucid coinage
- Korean mun
- Japanese mon
External links
- Chinese Cash Overview
- Chinese Coinage Web Site
- Coins and history of asia
- Nupam's webpage for the Indian coin's
- Early Pyu and Mon kingdoms
- East Asian coins
- Prabu's web page on Indian coins
- The history of Siamese money
Bibliography
The coins and history of Asia. T.K.Mallon-Mc Corgray, July 1996. Retrieved 25 January 2006.
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