Hartill 2.185 Handan Early Zhou dynasty China 700 BC Large Hollow handled spade money
Zhou dynasty of  China (1045 to 700 BC)

Hollow handled spade money
Handan, Jin State
Inscription: Han Dan
「甘丹」（邯鄲)




 
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Reference: Hartill 2.185
Weight: 50 grams, Size: 115 x 60 mm; Bronze
Hollow handled spade money
Handan, Jin State
「甘丹」（邯鄲)
 
Pointed shoulder spades: This type of spade has pointed shoulders and feet, and a long hollow handle. There are three parallel lines on the obverse and reverse, and occasionally inscriptions. They are found in N.E. Henan and in Shanxi, territory of the Duchy of Jin, later to become Zhao. They are held to be somewhat later in date than the square shouldered spades. Their shape seems to be designed for ease of tying together in bundles, rather than developed from any particular agricultural instrument
Hollow handled spades (Chinese: 布幣; pinyin: bubi are a link between weeding tools used for barter and stylised objects used as money. They are clearly too flimsy for use, but retain the hollow socket by which a genuine tool could be attached to a handle. This socket is rectangular in cross-section, and still retains the clay from the casting process. In the socket the hole by which the tool was fixed to its handle is also reproduced.

Prototype spade money: This type of Spade money is similar in shape and size to the original agricultural implements. While some are perhaps robust enough to be used in the fields, others are much lighter and bear an inscription, probably the name of the city which issued it. Some of these objects have been found in Shang and Western Zhou tombs, so they date from c. 1200-800 BC. Inscribed specimens appear to date from c. 700 BC.
 
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