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Sung Dynasty Chinese Coin, 960 A.D. browse these categories for related items... Directory: Archives:Collectibles:Numismatics: Pre AD 1000: Item # 412976
Janus Antiquities By Appointment New Jersey (330) 612-3957 Guest Book SOLD |
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After the collapse of the Tang Empire in 907 AD, China plunged into an era of darkness. The mighty realm of the Tang fragmented into many different knigdoms and warlords vying for power. In the south arose the Ten Kingdoms, which coexisted and warred with each other constantly. This period of warfare devastated China, resulting in great drops of population. However, in 960, General Zhao Kuangyin, serving in the army of the Later Zhou Dynasty, was elected emperor by his disgruntled soldiers. In fact, he was dragged from his bed in the middle of the night and had the emperor's dragon robe thrown on him! He marched on the capital and deposed the last emperor of Later Zhou, establishing the Sung Dynasty. He took the title Tai-tsu. Sung Tai-tsu built a centralized and efficient civilian bureaucracy, which curtailed the power of the military that had led in part to the fall of the Tang. In the field his armies destroyed the soutern states one by one, slowly unfiying the south. Sung Tai-tsu died in 976 AD, having set the stage for a strong empire. He was suceeded by his son Taizong, who consolidated his fathers gains and finally unified all of China for the Sung.
AGE: 960-976 A.D. CONDITION: Very nice, with a brown, earthen patina. Chinese cash coins were cast, not struck, and the reverses tend to be blank. See Schjoth, "Currency of the Far East," #467 for comparison. DIMENSIONS: 25mm in diameter |
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