Scott No: 1740-1747
Serial number: T65
Values in set: 8
Date of issue: October 29, 1981
Denomination: 8 fen
Designer: Lu Tianjiao
Engraver: Sun Hongnian, Yan Bingwu, Li Qingfa, Zhao Shunyi, Hu Zhenyuan, Gao Pinzhang
Size of stamps: 30*40mm
Perforation: 11.5*11
Sheet composition: 50 (10*5)
Printing process: Engraving and photogravure
Printing House: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing Works

T65 "Ancient Chinese Coins (Series I)" special stamps were issued on October 29, 1981. The set consists of 8 stamps, printed by photogravure combined with engraving, designed by Lu Tianjiao, engraved by Hu Zhenyuan, Yan Bingwu, Zhao Shunyi, Gao Pinzhang, Li Qingfa, Sun Hongnian, and others, and printed by the Beijing Stamp Factory. Stamp size 30 mm × 40 mm, perforation gauge 11.5 × 11, 50 stamps per sheet.

Theme of the Set

This set selects eight pre-Qin ancient coins from the Shang dynasty to the Warring States period, completely presenting the four major early currency forms: cowrie money, spade coins, knife coins, and round coins. Pre-Qin coins are the source of Chinese monetary civilization. The various states of different regions each minted their own coins, with diverse forms and antique characters, carrying information about ancient commerce, metallurgy, and the development of writing. As the opening work of the coin series, this set popularizes pre-Qin currency knowledge, displays China's long-standing coin culture, and is followed by T71 "Ancient Chinese Coins (Series II)."

Stamp Designs and Historical Background

Cowrie Money, Bronze Cowrie

The design presents cowrie money and bronze cowries side by side. Cowrie money is the natural sea cowrie of the Shang dynasty, China's earliest circulating currency; the bronze cowrie is a metal cowrie coin cast in imitation of the sea cowrie's form, unearthed in Anyang, Henan, marking the transition from commodity money to metal coinage.

Hollow-Handled Spade Coin

The main subject is a plain, pointed-foot hollow-handled spade coin of the Jin state in the Spring and Autumn period. It resembles a farming spade, with a hollow head that could hold a wooden handle. Unearthed in Houma, Shanxi, it is a representative of early spade coins and circulated in the Jin region of the Central Plains.

"Li" Hollow-Handled Spade Coin

The design shows a flat-shouldered, bridge-footed hollow-handled spade coin of the Eastern Zhou in the Spring and Autumn period, with the character "Li" cast on its face. Unearthed in Yichuan, Henan, it is a spade-shaped currency circulating in the Eastern Zhou royal domain, and its characters have important value for the study of ancient writing.

"Anyi Two Jin" Spade Coin

The design shows a flat-headed, round-shouldered, bridge-footed spade coin of the Wei state in the Warring States period, with the coin text "Anyi Two Jin." Anyi was the early capital of the Wei state, and jin was a unit of currency weight; it is a classic weight-marked spade coin of Wei.

"Qi Fa Hua" Knife Coin

The design shows a knife coin of the Qi state in the Warring States period, with a slender blade and the coin text "Qi Fa Hua." It is the standard circulating knife coin minted in Linzi, the capital of Qi, and circulated widely on the Shandong Peninsula.

"Jie Mo Zhi Fa Hua" Knife Coin

The design shows a Jie Mo knife coin of the Qi state in the Warring States period. "Jie Mo" is Jimo, an important city of Qi; the knife coin is larger in size and exquisitely cast, belonging to Qi's local coinage.

"Cheng Bai" Knife Coin

The design shows a straight knife coin of the Zhao state in the Warring States period, with the coin text "Cheng Bai." Compared with Qi knives, its form is shorter, smaller, and straighter; it is a knife coin variety unique to Zhao, circulating in the central and southern Hebei area.

"Gong" Round Coin

The design shows a round-hole round coin of the Wei state in the Warring States period, with the coin text "Gong," Gong being a place name. The round coin is round with a round hole, convenient for stringing and carrying, and is the prototype of later square-hole round coins.

Artistic Design Features

The set adopts the photogravure-plus-engraving process. Each stamp simultaneously presents a photograph of the actual coin and a line-drawing rubbing for comparison—one in color, one in ink—balancing texture and character legibility. Soft warm gray and light brown background colors are used to distinguish the layouts, dignified and elegant. The eight stamps are arranged in the order of currency development, from cowrie money to spade, knife, and round coins, clearly displaying the evolutionary thread of pre-Qin currency. The engraving is delicate, accurately restoring the coin surface's corrosion, inscriptions, and outlines, combining cultural-relic science popularization with classical aesthetics. It is the pioneering classic of coin-themed stamps.