The currency used by Chu State during the Warring States Period was Ying Yuan.

1. Ancient gold currency. It is a weighing currency of Chu State. It is also the earliest primitive gold coinage in our country. "Ying" is the name of the capital of Chu, and "爰" is the unit of currency weight. Its gold content is more than 90%, and the best quality can reach 99%. When using, cut the gold plate or gold cake into scattered small pieces as needed, and then weigh them using a specific equal-arm balance.

2. Ying Yuan gold coins have very important historical and cultural value among ancient currencies and are national first-class cultural relics. Cultural relic experts believe that the appearance of "Ying Yuan" in Jingzhou District, Jingzhou City, Hubei Province shows that Jingzhou City, Hubei Province has a long history and civilization, and is of profound significance to the study of Chu culture. Most of them are now stored in Jingzhou Museum, Nanjing Museum, Shouxian Museum, Shenyang Museum, etc.

Historical value of Ying Yuan:

1. At that time, the circulation of gold was limited to the upper class, and it was only used for international appointments, lobbying princes, gifts from kings, and large-scale transactions. It is my country's earliest original gold coin, with a gold content of more than 90%, and the best quality can reach 99%.

2. When using, cut the gold plate or gold cake into scattered small pieces as needed, and then weigh them using a specific equal-arm balance. Before the Eastern Han Dynasty, gold currency was popular and played a great role in transactions.

3. After the Eastern Han Dynasty, due to the increase in silver production, it gradually became an important means of payment in the form of silver cakes or silver ingots until the emergence of silver dollars in the late Qing Dynasty. Therefore, Ying Yuan gold coins have extremely important historical and cultural value among ancient currencies.