China's currency has a long history and a wide variety, forming a unique currency culture. In the currency of the pre-Qin period, various vassal States implemented different monetary systems: different shapes of knife coins, cloth coins and ring coins were used in different regions. After the Qin Dynasty unified China, the main form of China's currency was to circle money. In the Northern Song Dynasty, Jiaozi, the earliest paper money in the world, appeared. By the Ming Dynasty, silver had become the most important currency in circulation. [Edit this paragraph] In Shang Dynasty in China, shells were used as money. With the development of commodity economy, natural shells are in short supply, so artificial shells, such as stone shells, bone shells and mussels, have appeared. Copper metal shell coins appeared in the late Shang Dynasty. [Edit this paragraph] Pre-Qin coins reached the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, while Northern coins completely withdrew from the historical stage. Different regions formed different currencies due to social conditions and cultural differences. There are mainly: ant nose money in Chu area, cloth money in the Yellow River basin, knife money in Qiyan area and ring money in Sanjin and Shanxi provinces. [Edit this paragraph] After the Qin and Han Dynasties destroyed the Six Kingdoms, the old coins such as cloth coins and knife coins of various countries were abolished, and square holes and half coins were used as legal tender. The form of ancient currency in China was fixed from then on and remained in use until the end of Qing Dynasty.

Han inherited the Qin system and allowed the people to make their own castings. Copper coins in the Western Han Dynasty were still named by weight, but the weight gradually did not match the name. There are three main types of copper coins in the Western Han Dynasty: half two, three and five baht.

At the end of the Western Han Dynasty, during Wang Mang's regency and the new dynasty's rule, he reformed Tuo Domineering and carried out four major monetary reforms in more than ten years. Wang Mang's monetary reform ended in failure.

All the money minted in the Eastern Han Dynasty was five baht. [Edit this paragraph] Coins in the Three Kingdoms Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties During the Three Kingdoms Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties, the social unrest, the circulation of metal coins narrowed, the shapes were diverse, there were different currencies, and there was a phenomenon that heavy things were lighter than coins.

During the Three Kingdoms period, Cao Wei implemented the monetary policy in kind, and Wei Mingdi resumed casting five baht, similar to the five baht in the Eastern Han Dynasty. Shu Han and Wu Dong practiced a lot of money. The main currencies are: straight 150 baht, straight 100, etc. Wu coins mainly include: Daquan 500, Daquan pawn money, Daquan 2000 and so on.

After the establishment of the Western Jin Dynasty, the old coins of the Han and Wei Dynasties were mainly used, as well as grain, silk and other physical objects. At the beginning of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, Wu's old money was still used. Later, a small coin with five baht appeared, which was said to be minted by Xing Wu Shen Chong, so it was also called "Five baht in Shen Lang".

During the Sixteen Kingdoms period, Li Shou, an adult Han Dynasty, produced the earliest annual money "Hanxing" in China. During the Southern and Northern Dynasties, the society was very turbulent, the currency value was chaotic, and the phenomenon of private casting was serious. From the Northern Wei Dynasty, Qian Wen gradually got rid of the restriction of discipline and gradually transitioned to the annual salary system. [Edit this paragraph] The establishment of the Sui, Tang, Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms led to the unification of China's chaotic currencies. In the third year of Emperor Wendi, a standard five-baht coin was minted, and the circulation of old coins was prohibited.

Kaiyuan Bao Tong, the annual money minted by Tang Wude for four years, is gone forever, replaced by Bowen monetary system (mainly Bao Tong, Yuanbao and Chongbao). Kaiyuan Bao Tong was the main currency in the Tang Dynasty for 300 years. In addition, other coins were minted, such as Ganfeng Chongbao, Gan Yuan Chongbao, Dali Yuanbao, Jianzhong Bao Tong, Xian Tong Xuanbao and Shuntian Yuanbao, Deyi Yuanbao and so on.

Five Dynasties and Ten Countries, political division, regime change, like a merry-go-round. In order to weaken the strength of other countries, countries enhance their own strength by casting bad coins, so there are many coins, but the quality is not high. [Edit this paragraph] Song, Liao, Jin and Xixia coins China Song Dynasty is a relatively developed period of coinage, surpassing the previous generation in quantity and quality, and it is another peak after Wang Mang's money. Copper coins dominated the Song Dynasty and iron coins dominated the Southern Song Dynasty. After the Northern Song Dynasty, the title money really became popular, and almost every time the title was changed, new money was cast. There are many kinds of books in Qian Wen. At the same time, the circulation of silver has also achieved an important position. During the Northern Song Dynasty, Jiaozi, the earliest paper money in the world, appeared, followed by other paper money: Huizi and Guanzi, which played an increasingly important role. In addition, money sharing, prison money, kitchen money and annual money also came into being. Song Huizong Evonne's thin gold body is a must.

Liao is a country founded by the Khitans. At first, the currency of the Central Plains was used, and later it came from coinage. Taking China people as Qian Wen, most coins have not been refined.

Xixia once minted two kinds of written currency, one is Xixia language, which is called "money in the house"; One is Han money, which is similar in shape and size to Song money. The coins in Xixia are finished, and the words are beautiful.

The Jin State was founded by the Jurchen nationality and once ruled a vast area in northern China. It makes all kinds of coins, including copper coins and paper money, all of which are from China. The coins in the state of Jin were greatly influenced by the Southern Song Dynasty. [Edit this paragraph] Yuan, Ming and Qing coins In the Yuan Dynasty, paper money became the main currency in circulation, and the status of copper coins weakened. At the same time, the circulation of silver accounts for a large proportion. When the rulers of the Yuan Dynasty believed in Buddhism, they invested some small money to support them, and temples were dedicated to the Buddha.

In the Ming dynasty, paper money was vigorously promoted. In the early Ming Dynasty, only paper money was used instead of money. Later it was changed to both paper money and paper money. However, in the Ming Dynasty, only one kind of paper money was issued, Daming Treasure Paper Money. Silver became the legal tender in circulation in the Ming Dynasty. Silver was mostly used for large transactions, while paper money or coins were used for small transactions. Ten emperors minted annual coins in the Ming Dynasty. Because of avoiding the word "Yuan" of Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang, all coins in the Ming Dynasty were collectively called "Bao Tong" instead of "Yuanbao".

In the Qing Dynasty, silver was the main material, and money was often used in small transactions. In the early Qing Dynasty, casting money followed the tradition of more than 2,000 years ago, making money with molds, and later imitating foreign countries and making money with machines. At the end of the Qing Dynasty, after the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom invaded Nanjing, it also cast copper coins, which were greatly influenced by religion and were called "sacred treasures".