Twenty Centuries of Chinese Cash Coins 5-pc Set

20 Centuries Of Chinese Coins

In Ancient China, it was believed that heaven was round while the earth was square. This was one of the reasons that the famous Cash Coins of China display a square hole in the center. The other reason was that the hole made it easy to string many coins together. These coins are so instantly recognizable, the Smithsonian® features a “tree” of them at the very center of its Gallery of Numismatics!

Chinese Coins Have Maintained This Same Basic Form

Despite the progression of 20 centuries and several dynastic transitions, Chinese coins have maintained this same basic form through all of it with Chinese characters that convey their contemporaneous ruling authority. ­The five cash coins here, from five different dynasties, were minted centuries apart, but it’s difficult to see any changes—from the Han Dynasty (A.D. 7-23) to the Q’ing Dynasty (1636-1911).

Chinese Cash Coins Are Seen As Good Luck Pieces

Today, Chinese people consider these old Cash Coins to be good-luck trinkets. They’re often seen hanging around the necks of young children or over the beds of people suffering from an illness. One belief in these charms holds that if you always have a cash coin in your purse or pocket you will never run out of money. Another superstition is that during a new moon you should hold the coin in your hand, spit on it for good luck and return it to your pocket. How you decide to make the best use of your Chinese Cash Coins is up to you, but you’d better hurry and order now before your luck runs out—and we run out of these coins!