961-978 Chinese Southern Tang Kingdom 1 Cash bronze coin, obverse lettering Kai Yuan Tong Bao in seal script, Hartill 15.99, D: 25 mm, 3.43 grams. In the second year of Qiande (961), Li Yu ascended the throne, and the resources of the country being exhausted, his minister Han Xizai obtained permission to cast coins. These were on the Kai Yuan model, but in seal writing devised by the scholar Xu Xuan. This coin was slightly larger than the old Kai Yuans, and had broader rims, and was found convenient by both the government and the people. _x000D_
Four chinese characters Kai Yuan Tong Bao (in seal script) / Nail mark in the upper left. 24.5mm, 3.42 grams. Issued 961-978 AD. Schjöth #446 var; Hartill 15.99 var. In the second year of Qiande (961), Li Yu ascended the throne, and the resources of the country being exhausted, his minister Han Xizai obtained permission to cast coins. These were on the Kai Yuan model, but in seal writing devised by the scholar Xu Xuan. This coin was slightly larger than the old Kai Yuans, and had broader rims, and was found convenient by both the government and the people. Southern Tang (also referred to as Nantang) was one of the Ten Kingdoms in south-central China created following the Tang Dynasty from 937-975. Southern Tang replaced the Wu Kingdom when Li Bian (a.k.a. Xu Zhigao) deposed the emperor Yang Pu. The capital was located in Jinling (also known as Xidu), located in present-day Nanjing in Jiangsu Province. The territory comprised parts of modern Fujian, Jiangsu and Anhui provinces and the whole of Jiangxi Province. Southern Tang was conquered in 976 by the Northern Song Dynasty. PROVENANCE: Private collection of Ken Dorney, classical numismatist dealer