CHINA TIAN SHENG YUAN BAO iron 1 cash (1149-70 AD)

DescriptionXi Xia (Western Xia) was a dynasty of Tangut lords in Gansu and Shaanxi in northwest China. They were consolidated into an “Empire” by a charismatic leader, who proceeded to attack China. The Song added Xi Xia to the tribute list. They were kind of rivals of the Liao. Mongols conquered them, that was the end of that.This category is non-Chinese northern and western kingdoms, including Liao (Khitan Turks), Jin (Jurched) who conquered northern China, Xi (Western) Xia (Tangut, their civil administration had some proto-Marxist characteristics, and the Mongols before Chingis Khan. The Mongol Yuan Dynasty in China, built by war, mishandled peacetime and broke up in the face of native rebellion.The oldest Chinese coins are at least as old as the earliest Greek coins. The Chinese coinage system differed from other systems in two ways. It was monometallic, only bronze coins circulated in general commerce. Gold and silver were treated as commodities. And the manufacturing method was by casting in moulds rather than by striking heated solid planchets. The main reference I use in attributing and describing these coins is the book: Chinese Cast Coins, by David Hartill.