China, State of Chu, “Yuan Yin” gold cube money, Warring States Period, c. 475-221 BC, 9.11 g. (20 mm). A partial cube inscribed “Ying Yuan”, produced in what is today Hubei Province.
Bright and with excellent lustre, with minor earthen deposits in the protected spaces; a very sound cut fragmentary specimen with much of the inscription clearly visible. Graded “70” by Huaxia Coin Grading.
This example was cut from larger bars which allowed for the making of small denominations; in this case, a partial cube was presumably separated from a larger sheet and stamped. Historically, this is China’s first gold currency with a fixed shape and size.
Ex Stack’s Bowers Galleries, August 2019, lot 52002.
Ex Chand Collection
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