Ancient CHINA
Northern Song Dynasty
Solid Gold Buddhist coin
Chun Hua Yuan Bao (990 - 994 AD) Two Buddhas
Gold Plated sacrificial coin. In the Chunhua period the emperor Taizong of the Song cast coins to commemorate his visit to Wutaishan to worship Buddha. On the obverse are the characters ‘Chunhuan Yuanbao’, on the reverse the Buddha is shown sitting cross-legged on a lotus on the right side of the hole and, on the left side, Sudhana stands on a lotus base with hands together in prayer. Above is the character for the number four. The two Buddhas are very lifelike. From the discovery of these coins at Wutaishan, we can see the value placed on Buddhism by the Song government.

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Material: Pure solid Gold 
Weight: 12.08 grams; Size: 23.9 mm
 
Chunhua reign period (990–94), Northern Song
Excavated in 1988 at temples in Wutaishan, Shanxi Province
Obv: chun hua yuan bao
Rev: Two Buddhist image at right and at left, both sitting on lotus flowers.
Chopmark (1) at top.

Extremely rare sacrificial coin of the Northern Song dynasty period.
Hua Guangpu, p.421 (Gold coin)

"Gongyang qian (sacrificial coin), Buddhist images cast on the reverse ("Venerable pair"), unearthed on Five Terraces Mountain (Wutaishang)."Qian Yu, "Jin Yin Huobi di Jiangding" ("Identification of Gold and Silver Coins"), Shanghai, 1993, p.46 and pic.1-3-8:
"On Spring 1988 in Shansi, on mountain Wutaishang (Five Terraces) during of Buddhist pagoda reconstruction works was discovered a group of gold coins Chun-hua yuan-bao with Buddhist figures on the reverse.
On the obverse is written coin legend "Chun-hua yuan-bao" in ranning-hand script (xing-shu). On the reverse on the left figure of the standing Boddhisattva Wei Tuo, keeping in a hand the magic sceptre Ruyi [kind of sceptre, usually made of wood or jade, used as a symbol of Buddha]. On the right - Buddha sitting on a lotus, radiating the precious light. The figures of saints are made very carefully and naturally. At the top on rim is cutted number 1, 2, 3 or 4.
The place of the coins discovery, decorated on the reverse with Buddhas, allows to conclude that these items are sacrificial coins."
Emperor Tai Zong (976-97 AD)
Chun Hua yuan bao (Chinese: 淳化元寶 ) (990-94). Written in regular, running, and grass script. There are also small and large iron coins. They have a nominal value of 10. In 991, 20,000 iron coins were needed in the market for one roll of silk. Permission was requested to alter the casting to Value Ten coins in the Imperial Script pattern. In one year only 3,000 strings were cast. They were not considered convenient, so casting was stopped. Gold and Silver coins were also found. 
Taizong was a hardworking and diligent emperor, notable for reunifying China by conquering the Northern Han and for caring for the well being of his people. He personally led the campaign against the North, increased agricultural production, organized encyclopedias, expanded the courts and the examination system, and further limited the military power of the jiedushi. He personally wrote the inscriptions on his coins.
 
 
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