400-220 BC Chinese Warring States era State of Yan bronze knife coin, obverse lettering Ming, reverse lettering Zuo written left, Hartill 5.a variation, L: 137 mm, 15.70 grams. Green patina, not completely cleaned. The obverse character is usually read as "ming", though alternative readings as "yi", "ju", "ming" and "zhao" are possible. The reading of this word as "yi" is the most likely one - Yi was the capital of the state of Yan at this period and many of these knives are found at the site of the ancient city. Yan was a state during the Western Zhou, Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods in China by Xianbei. Its capital was Ji (nowadays Beijing, also known as Yanjing, "capital of Yan"). During the Warring States, the capital was also moved to its lower capital at Xiadu at times, which was the largest city in terms of area at the time. Lu Wan became was the last King of Yan. He reigned there for most of Liu Bang's life until he failed to meet a summons to the Imperial Court due to illness. He fled to the Xiongnu to avoid being executed. Yan then came under rule of the Han Dynasty. PROVENANCE: Private collection of Ken Dorney, classical numismatist dealer