Three Character Knife Money, China, 5th-1st century BCE
Three Character Knife Money, China, 5th-1st century BCE
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- Description (Brief)
- One (1) Three Character knife money
- China, 5th-1st century BCE
- Description
- Many communities have designed money in the shape of objects that are important to them, such as tools and weapons. They usually do not make them sharp, though. They were only supposed to be used to make payments.
- This piece of money shaped like a knife was used in China for a wide range of purchases. It is more than 2,000 years old, making it one of the first coins in world history.
- Object Name
- knife money
- date made
- 5th - 1st century BCE
- place made
- China
- Physical Description
- bronze (overall material)
- Measurements
- overall: 186 mm x 40 mm x 4 mm; 7 5/16 in x 1 9/16 in x 5/32 in
- ID Number
- 2017.0116.046
- accession number
- 2017.0116
- catalog number
- 2017.0116.046
- Credit Line
- Howard F. Bowker Family
- See more items in
- Work and Industry: National Numismatic Collection
- East Asian Coins
- Exhibition
- Really BIG Money
- Exhibition Location
- National Museum of American History
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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