His Story Treasures Presents

Ban Liang Coin – Currency of China’s Warring States Era

One of the Earliest Round Coins in Chinese History

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🏛 Historical Context

More than two thousand years ago, China was divided among powerful rival kingdoms during the Warring States period.

During this dramatic era, competing states developed their own monetary systems to support growing trade networks and military campaigns. Among the most influential forms of currency was the Ban Liang coin, a revolutionary design that would ultimately shape Chinese coinage for the next two millennia.

The Ban Liang coin was originally issued by the State of Qin, the powerful western kingdom that would later conquer the other states and establish the first unified Chinese empire under Qin Shi Huang.

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⚒️ The Coin & Its Craftsmanship

This coin features the classic inscription:

半两 (Ban Liang)

meaning “Half Liang.”

The term “liang” referred to a unit of weight used in ancient Chinese currency systems.

The Ban Liang coin introduced the iconic round shape with a square center hole, a design that would remain the standard for Chinese coins for nearly two thousand years.

This particular specimen shows the distinctive early calligraphy style associated with Warring States era issues.

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📖 The Story Behind the Coin

Before the Ban Liang system emerged, Chinese states used many different types of money, including:

• knife money

• spade money

• ring coins

The Ban Liang coin represented a major step toward monetary standardization.

When the Qin state unified China in 221 BCE, the Ban Liang coin became the official currency of the empire, replacing the diverse regional coinage systems that had existed for centuries.

In this sense, the Ban Liang coin represents not just a monetary instrument, but the birth of a unified economic system in China.

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💎 Why Collectors Treasure It

Collectors highly value Ban Liang coins because they represent:

• One of the earliest round coins in Chinese history

• The beginning of the round-coin tradition that lasted over 2,000 years

• Currency associated with the rise of the Qin Empire and the unification of China

• A foundational piece in any collection of ancient Chinese coinage

For many collectors, Ban Liang coins represent the starting point of China’s long and fascinating monetary history.

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Specifications

Period: Warring States Period (475–221 BCE)

Type: Ban Liang

Material: Bronze

Diameter: 20.4 mm

Thickness: 1.0 mm

Weight: 1.3 g

Grade: 美85

Certification: GBCA (Gongbo Historical Coins Authentication)

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Condition

An authentic early Ban Liang coin with clear surviving characters and natural ancient patina.

Graded 美85 by GBCA, indicating a well-preserved example considering its age of more than 2,200 years.

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From the Collection of His Story Treasures

At His Story Treasures, every artifact represents a chapter of human history.

From the earliest coinage of ancient civilizations to the dynasties of imperial China, our mission is to connect collectors with the stories behind the objects that shaped the world.