Real and Counterfeit Money

Paper money was invented in China in the late 8th and early 9th century AD, during the Song Dynasty. China became the 1st country in the world to do so. In comparison, the 1st European country to use paper money was Sweden in 1661.
The heyday of paper money took place during the Yuan Dynasty [Mongol Period ] where high quality money was made of silk....such as the rare one displayed here.
With the evolution of paper currency and the much earlier credit notes, business, commerce and trade improved and expanded between cities and towns in China. Many of such notes even made it across to Persia and beyond during the Yuan dynasty.


Silver ingots have long been a popular form of metal currency in ancient times. The value is in the weight of the silver itself.
One major drawback was the difficulty in carrying and transporting large amount of the ingots due to the accumulated weight.

From time immemorial, once money was invented in its various forms but especially coins and later paper currency, there were forgers and counterfeiters.

The penalty was severe....Death!

Photo:
Our gracious museum guide, lady in blue, meticulously showing us the technique to detect a counterfeit note from the real thing. Mr Ye, SGH staff member, animatedly using a real note to emphasise a point.
D2 all eyes and ears as she listened intently!
PS: This museum now has a Singapore $ 5 and $ 2 plastic note which I donated for their display section. Our guide said that plastic notes are harder to forge but she hasn't any to show us. So I checked my money. I happened to have those two notes with me then.

More on the Money Museum

The children with us were very excited by all the exhibits. Not surprising at all as we were all surrounded by money, money and more money. The display gave us a very good insight into the ways that money had evolved down through the ages.
Top photo:
Display of the coins that were always made with an opening in the centre. A square hole. Why ?
So that you could easily string them together for easy counting and they will not get lost. That is the practical part. But the history of this Ban Liang Qian coin is interesting. We should thank China's 1st Emperor.... Qin Shi Huang. Though such coins were first used in earlier dynasties in the Qin State, they were made and promoted widely during his reign and strictly controlled. His top minister Li Si was credited with adding Chinese characters to the coin. Why was it round with a square hole? What meaning and symbolism was there? The roundness represents the sky surrounding the Square earth in the centre. Round extends the commandment of heaven while square publicises the authority and power of the emperor. This was a concept prevalent in the understanding of our forefathers in those ancient days.


Would you believe it?
These are not barbers' shaving knives.
They were actually metal money in ancient times!



Some money were actually made of real GOLD!




These few pieces of ancient artifacts were actually the mould for making the coins. They were made of clay and earth and the molten metal were poured over them. After the cooling period, the coins were then removed from the mould. Such money making kilns were strictly controlled and approved by the rulers of the day. It was a serious crime to make your own illegal money. The punishment meted out was often....a death sentence.
By the way, many of the archaeological finds shown in the museum were discovered in Hubei Province itself. Hubei has a very long and rich history.
I will explain more when I write about the exhibits at the Hubei Provincial Museum in coming blogs.

The Numismatic Museum of Wuhan

We returned from that wonderful home visit and gathered at the school. Together with all the 54 kids and some staff, we were supposed to vist Moshan. However a heavy downpour came upon the city and we all headed for the Numismatic Museum of Wuhan. This special museum is private and not opened to the public. But the school has the right connections and we were given not only access but a guided tour inside by the staff of that place.
Because of the rain, all our shoes were very wet and we were given special plastic slip-ons for our shoes before stepping inside the museum.

Top photo:
At the entrance of the museum

Next two photos:
Me and Jessica showing off the interesting blue slip-ons. The idea is simple yet functional and novel!

The displays of various coins and currency are well-organised with descriptions in both Chinese and English. There were many ancient coins and artifacts used as money on display. Some were from the earliest period of China's long history.

Pre-Shang dynasty, Shang, right on to the Qin dynasty, Han, Warring States of 3 Kingdoms period, etc...to today's Modern China. They are all there.

Bottom photo:

Samples of coins and other ancient money found still encased and fused together.