Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-11-25

c., down to -sin-si, 1886 B. c., no."
or merchandise; in that of Tao-tang-si
the coinage was called 'tsuen," or foun-
tain, as it was maintained that money
flowed as fast as a fountain, that it
spread more widely than "pu," piece
of hemp or silk cloth, which was cur
rent as money, and that it was better
than tao" or knives. The money Of
the first three dynasties, to 1866 B. c.,
is described as having been made of
three kinds of metal-yellow (gold)
white (silver,) red (copper,) cloth
(hemp and silk,) knives and spades Of
iron, tortoise shell and cowries. The
tao coins We're of iron, in form among
the earliest articles of trade in general
use. Before money was current the
shape was retained as a currency. The
first tao coins were cast 2453 B. c., the
inscription meaning "to exchange for
merchandise" At this time old silver
and copper began to circulate more
freely, and the tao or knife money
gradually disappeared.
When .Wang-M ang, A. D. IA. became
emperor of China he reintroduced the tao.
or knfe-shaped coins, and called them XII
tao, meaning KNIVES to make agreement
"
cash. To create a higher value for this
coinage Wang-Mang issued CONS of the
same shape washed in gold inscribed
Its o-Tao" c'gilded knives, or precious
merehandise'D having an arbitrary val
uation of 800 cash. The gliding wearing
off in time left but the inscription to in
dictate the value and the issuance OF
ts'o-tao was abolished. to be replaced by
the "ho'' or 'pu'' coinage of cloth money,
representing the shape of dress pattern,
the inscription. 'Ho Pu,' meaning mer.
chandise cloth" These were usually of
cast iron. though sometimes of copper.
After the final abolition of the tao coin
age or knife money, which Wang-Mang
had reintroduced in A. D. IA. new kind
of iron money was coined. These pieces
were called yik-tseu, meaning blended
round and surrounded with red" on ac-
count of the raised edge of the coin,
which was made of red copper. In a
short time the counterfeits were so nu-
merou5 that this coinage had to be dis
continued An imperial mint was estab-
lished and the officers of the Sanglin
ACADEMY of Science) were appointed
mint masters, and the provinces ceased to
coin their own money. The pieces OF D tsu
were then issued, remaining the principal
money in circulation for sOO years. Inen
free coinage was resumed, ana an ell
trely new coin was instituted.
The new coins were circular, with a
SQUARE hole in the center, in accordance
with the Chinese belief that the heavens
are round and the earth square. rms
coin was called t-ling-pao, re-
naming until the present day. Upon the
diverse the inscription reads: current
money of the newest beginning ana IN
the eXergue the date of the year OF the
emperor's reign. Upon the reverse can De
seen the rail mark which tradition says
was done by the Empress Wen-Tek, VINO,
when shown the new design modeleu III
wax, reached for it and left the lmprht
| of her finger nail upon it. AS the mlnt
masters did not dare efface the marx, II
| has remained on the coins ever since.
These coins are called 'cash' by the 1or-
| eigners. and by the natives tsieu.
The Chinese 'tael'' of the present Jay
| is divided into 10 mace, or Ii, 100 canaa-
reens, or fan. and 1000 cash or tsleu. Inc
| intrinsic value of this currency is what
ever the mixture of tin, spelter, copper
| and iron of the same weight would prlns'
yet the tael of 1000 cash pieces passes cur,
rent in China at value of $1.6l in Unlted
| States money.
| The gold coinage primarily intended as
| presents to princes and dignitafles was
rarely if ever used by the mercantile or
| labcring classes. The principal gold com
| was called kin pound Of gold, anu
| was issued by the Tsue dynasty lIzz b. y,
at value of "a taels. This dynasty was
dethroned 221 B. c. by Prince Tsung anu
China became a united empire. Inc lni,
perial gold coin was then caled VI anu
| was valued at 20 taels. Ever since tne
| reign of Wang Mang the Chinese raw
disused gold as money and 1t Is no"