A imitation of the useful tool
 was the money of the State of Yan  , but it was circulatedfreely both in Central China and in the outlying kingdoms during the Warring States Period. |
Extremely Rare A ~ Very Rare B ~ Rare C ~ Not So Many D ~ Common E
| Description | No. 0032 | Place of Origin: unknown |
Wt. 14.4 g. | length: 140mm width: 17mm | Rareness E |
| Obverse |  | ||||
| Reverse |  | ||||
| Mint Evolution & Peculiarity | Knife coins were evolved from the bronze implement "Tao Hsiao" . [a type of broze knife used by the people of Yan state to cut the meat for food] There was a ring at the end of the implement's handle and the handle was carved with a rift. Knife coins often bear inscriptions on the both sides which indicating the places or states, where the knife coins were minted. Ming tao is always found in the modern provinces of Hopeh and Liaoning as well as southern Manchuria. "Ming"  perhaps was a town in Hopeh province. The inscription bore on obverse side was Chinese character "Ming" and the reverse was Chinese character "Tso" means left. Other sources suggested that the inscription bearing on the obverse was Chinese character "I"  and could be explained as "Yan" during the ancient time. It is believed that Mingtao was minted after 305BC. | ||||