Ancient Chinese coinage includes some of the earliest known coins. These coins, used as early as the Spring and Autumn period (770-476 BCE), took the form of imitations of the cowrie shells that were used in ceremonial exchanges. The same period also saw the introduction of the first metal coins; however, they were not initially round, instead being either knife shaped or spade shaped. Round metal coins with a round, and then later square hole in the center were first introduced around 350 BCE.
![Ancient Chinese coinage includes some of the earliest known coins. These coins, used as early as the Spring and Autumn period (770-476 BCE), took the form of imitations of the cowrie shells that were used in ceremonial exchanges. The same period also saw the introduction of the first metal coins; however, they were not initially round, instead being either knife shaped or spade shaped. Round metal coins with a round, and then later square hole in the center were first introduced around 350 BCE. Stock Photo](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/2K03H6G/ancient-chinese-coinage-includes-some-of-the-earliest-known-coins-these-coins-used-as-early-as-the-spring-and-autumn-period-770-476-bce-took-the-form-of-imitations-of-the-cowrie-shells-that-were-used-in-ceremonial-exchanges-the-same-period-also-saw-the-introduction-of-the-first-metal-coins-however-they-were-not-initially-round-instead-being-either-knife-shaped-or-spade-shaped-round-metal-coins-with-a-round-and-then-later-square-hole-in-the-center-were-first-introduced-around-350-bce-2K03H6G.jpg)
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World History Archive / Alamy Stock PhotoImage ID:
2K03H6GFile size:
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4968 x 4221 px | 42.1 x 35.7 cm | 16.6 x 14.1 inches | 300dpiPhotographer:
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