In ancient times, people's coins differed from what we circulate today.
China is one of the first countries in the world to circulate coins
。
The history of the use of coins has been as long as 5,000 years, and in ancient times, not only coins existed, but also had banks like we have now- money banks. However, there are still many differences between ancient money banks and today's banks, and this article will analyze the circulation of ancient currencies and explore the circulation history of Chinese and Western currencies.
The Evolution of Ancient Chinese Coins
1. The formation and transformation of natural money
On the mainland,
The earliest currency circulation should belong to the shellfish currency of the Shang Dynasty
。 Before the formation of shellfish money, people exchanged goods as a form of circulation in the market. With the extreme increase of the population, the shells in the sea can no longer meet people's demand for money, but make copper into the shape of money, as a coin.
The emergence of copper coins is a starting point for China to officially move towards the coinage road
。 With the continuous circulation and use of copper coins, people no longer use shell coins, and completely transform coins from shells to copper products.
2. The formation of the shape of the currency
From the Shang Dynasty period, people completely began to use copper coins, until the Warring States period, because of the emergence of princely states, the shape of the currency began to become disorganized. The shapes began to become unvarnished, the only thing in common was that they were still made of copper. For example
The round square hole coin of the Qin State, the shovel coin of the Zhao State, the sword coin of the Qi State, and the ant nose coin of the Chu State
Wait a minute.
It was not until Qin Shi Huang unified the Six Kingdoms that laws were issued specifically for money:"
With Qin coins and the coins of the world
”。 At this point, Qin Shi Huang set up the shape of money throughout the country -
Round square hole currency
。 Ended the nearly century-old strange currency circulation on the mainland. At the same time, China continued this form of currency until the early republic of China.
3. The central government began to centralize power on money
In the beginning, the minting power of money was basically prescribed by the emperor, but there were still cases where the people would make coins. Until the early Han Dynasty, according to
The Book of Han records that "except for the order to steal money and cast money, let the people cast it." ”
At this point, in the people, there have been people with a lot of copper products, and they have begun to make money continuously, and the final situation is that the rich are enemies of the country, and the Son of Heaven certainly does not allow this kind of thing to happen.
Subsequently, during the reign of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty,
Emperor Wu of han took back the people's right to mint coins
。 An order was issued, and the central government uniformly minted five baht coins, which were distributed to the shop for people to spend.
Since then, the central government has unified the shape of coins and the right to manufacture coins. Until now, this form has been maintained. Of course, this form of issuing currency also ensured the country's riots and the phenomenon of not being easy to govern to a certain extent, and played a protective role in the political and economic development of ancient China.
4. The birth of the yuanbao and the circulation of new money
During the Qin and Han dynasties, the government's circulation of coins was mainly reflected in weight. For example
"Half two", "Five Baht"
Wait a minute. Until the Tang Dynasty, Tang Gaozu Li Yuan made up his mind to abolish the circulation of this currency, believing that there were still many inconveniences and drawbacks in this circulation. It was decided to create the form of Yuanbao and Tongbao to circulate in the market.
"Kaiyuan Tongbao" money is the earliest circulating Tongbao money in the mainland
。 Henceforth, the continental calculation of coins will no longer be calculated by weight, but by form to judge coins. The form of money in this period also spread to the Xinhai Revolution.
5. The shift from metal money to paper money
With the rapid and development of currency circulation and the continuous expansion of the Silk Road, the circulation of money is constantly increasing, until copper, gold, and silver are about to be unable to supply people's applications. In addition, people's lives are constantly improving, and the value of goods is constantly increasing.
When people go out, it is not convenient to carry such heavy coins, which can be said to basically prevent people from trekking mountains and rivers or stronger journeys. Until the time of Emperor Zhenzong of Song, with the permission of the government, the sixteen wealthy families that started in Chengdu converted copper coins into paper money. That is
"Jiaozi"
the emergence.
It is the earliest paper money produced in the mainland, and it also paves the way for the application of paper money in the later period.
The Evolution of Ancient Western Currencies
1. Amber coins of the Kingdom of Lydia
The amber coins of the Lydian kingdom were the earliest currency in the world. As early as BC
600 years
The emperor of the Lydian kingdom discovered naturally flowing gold and silver in the local capital, the Sadis River. Therefore, the emperor ordered it to be used
The ratio of gold to silver is 3:1
The proportion of the world's earliest currency produced -
electrum
。 And because of the preciousness of gold, an amber coin was a month's salary for soldiers at that time.
2. Persian coins
As amber coins continued to circulate in the West, the Persian people also discovered the importance of coins. And the Persian area also had naturally bred gold and silver mines, but there was no idea of the Lydian kingdom producing coins. So, at this time, the Persian people began to study and create their own national coins.
Persian coins
。 There are two main types:
Greater Lik Gold Coins and Silver Sicles
。 And their value ratio is 1:20. Therefore, it can also be seen that the preciousness of gold coins in Western countries at that time can be seen.
3. Ancient Greek coins
In 525 BC, the people of Athens, Greece, after studying their own country, were born into the ancient famous
4 Silver Drake Horse Coins.
At the same time, on the coin is carved the goddess of wisdom in ancient Greek mythology, Athena, and on the back is the symbol of the city of Athens - the owl.
4. Macedonian gold and silver coins
After the Greek coins,
Alexander the Great
Coins related to ancient Greek coins were issued in their own countries, but they changed in form and appearance. The head of The Goddess of Victory, Nikid, was carved on the back of the original goddess Athena as a gold coin and a silver coin was successfully issued.
Because the West was influenced by the ancient Greek gods. Basically, the coins of later generations were the heads of the gods they believed in. As a symbol of their faith, it has been passed down for a long time.
5. Alexander the Great Coin
Since the death of Alexander the Great, his generals
West Marcos
After taking control of the remaining territories that Alexander the Great needed to attack during his lifetime, in order to commemorate him, Alexander the Great coins were issued as a memorial.
6. King's Head Coin
In 281 BC,
King Gotazes II of Parthians introduced 4 silver drakema coins,
The head of a contemporary monarch is used as a motif on the front of the coin.
Cold knowledge of ancient Chinese and Western currencies
1. Why are there great differences between ancient Chinese and Western currencies
First of all, this has a great environment with the geographical environment of China and the West. Different geographical environments enjoy different natural resources. Western countries have more mineral materials than Chinese, so the ancient currency in Western history is basically based on gold and silver.
And ancient China in the West had "
Gold and silver are all over the place
"But in fact, China's gold and silver ownership and mining degree is not as much as in the West, and the Chinese side later created paper money because of the advantages of geographical environment and invention, which greatly reduced the cost of money production." So, the West didn't start out
Papermaking technology
The coins of China and the West are also very different.
2. The difference between Chinese and Western monetary systems
Because of the centralization of land and management in ancient times, the Chinese side did not resemble the West. Basically, as long as a country rules the world, it changes a coin management system. And
The development process of ancient Chinese currency is layered and progressive, not a development sign of a dynasty
In ancient times, as long as there were new countries in the West that ruled the world, there would be a new monetary system to manage the currency level of the country. Moreover, Western countries have not paid too much attention to the development of money, as long as they can maintain the country's normal currency expenditure and regulations.
summary
Money is the best proof of human survival in the world
。 People have produced money as a tool for better trading and communication. China and the West have been baptized by the long river of history. There are great differences in both form and system.
This difference can also reflect the beliefs and habits of China and the West in ancient societies, including geographical environment, natural environment and many other differences. Therefore, money is the best proof of the different cultural histories of China and the West.