339, Lot: 472. Estimate $75. Sold for $180. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee. |
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CHINA, Eastern Zhou dynasty - Warring States Period. State of Yān. Circa 400-220 BC. Æ ‘Ming’ Knife (138x18mm, 17.89 g).
Yi Dao in early
zhuànshū Hànzì (seal script) characters /
Zuo [?] in early
zhuànshū Hànzì (seal script) characters. BN
Chinoises I –; Hartill 4.40/5.bd. VF, green patina.
From the J.P. Righetti Collection.
The obverse character on this popular coin was initially read as Ming. However, recent excavations uncovered a mint for this type in the city of Yi, capital of Yan, suggesting that the alternate interpretation of the legend as Yi dao is correct.