China, Han Dynasty And Successor States, Wu Zhu Cash Coins Struck (118 Bce – 618 Ce)(C)

The Wu Zhu cash coin is one of the longest-lived coin types in the history of money. First introduced by the Western Han emperor Wu Di in 118 BC, its name translates as 5 Zhu and was equivalent in weight to 100 millet seeds. It was struck during the period of the Western and Eastern Han dynasties (118 BCE - 9 CE / 23 CE - 220 CE) and even after their fall in the chaotic period that followed for another 400 years before finally being replaced by the coinage of the new Tang dynasty in 618 CE.