Context (Related Documents)
Handwritten card associated with 1923.253 A-D reads in pencil:
'161 e f g i S.L.30.
Pu coins inscribed 平陽 P'ing Yang
various placenames; different cities issued indistinguishable coins.
?601 B.C. to 468 B.C.'
Event Date
Author: Danlei Zhou

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Description (Inscription)
Inscription in Chinese characters on the obverse reads: '平陽' [Píngyáng].
Event Date
Author: Danlei Zhou

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Context (Related Documents)
Handwritten label seen with the object reads 'Four "PU" coins (illegible) P'ING YANG. c.250 BC. 35.253' in black ink.
Event Date
Author: Eleanor Wilkinson

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Context (Related Documents)
Object seen in a beige paper envelope marked 'Store' in blue ink, ''Pu' coins China' in pencil, and '35.253 A,D,D,' on black ink on the front and '35.253.B. Exchanged with National Museum of Malaya' in blue ink on the back.
Event Date
Author: Eleanor Wilkinson

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Context (Related Documents)
The original brown paper envelope is marked '161.efs.1. S.L.30.' in pencil and '4 PU coins - P'ing Yang. R. 平陽. Various Place names; different cities issued indistinguishable coins Circa 250 BC. 35.253. A-D' in black ink.
Event Date
Author: Eleanor Wilkinson

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Context (Related Documents)
Handwritten label seen with the object reads: 'CHINA 35.253 A-D - B. MISSING. 3 ANCIENS PU 'COINS' WITH POINTED FEET. C. 250 BC. CLARKE GIFT.' in black ink on one side and '13.B.2. SIZE 2. CURRENCY NON-COIN' in black ink and 'NEEDS CONSERVATION 11.2.987' in pencil on the other side.
Event Date
Author: Eleanor Wilkinson

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Context (Analysis)
Pingyang [P' ing Yang] was the capital of the state of Han. (It coincides with the modern Pingyang [P' ing Yang], a prefecture in the province of Shanxi [Shansi]). The coin dates from c. 250 BC.
Event Date
Author: Mark Elliott

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Context (Analysis)
Specimens of the coins vary so much in make and quality that it seems unlikely they were all coined in one place - i.e. East P.Y and West P.Y.
Event Date
Author: maa

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Context (Related Documents)
See card for characters.
Event Date 1935
Author: Eleanor Wilkinson

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Description (Physical description)
Description for 1935.253 A-D: 'Four ancient PU coins with square feet. Obverse: Right P' ING; Left YANG; centre a perpendicular line. P' ing Yang was the capital of the state of Han, and corresponds with the modern P' ing Yang, a prefecture in the Province of Shansi. Reverse: Plain with line in centre and a line on either side.'
Event Date 1935
Author: maa

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Context (Acquisition Details)
Collected by Orvar Karlbeck on behalf of the 1934 Karlbeck Syndicate. Louis Clarke was an investor in the Syndicate and donated his allocation to the museum in 1935. See archive for report (BR2/1/3).
Event Date 1935
Author: Mark Elliott

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Context (References)
Jurgens, Valerie. (2012). The Karlbeck Syndicate 1930-1934: Collecting and Scholarship on Chinese Art in Sweden and Britain. Saarbrücken: LAP Lambert Academic Publishing
Event Date 2012
Author: Danlei Zhou

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Context (Analysis)
Pingyang [P'ingyang] is present-day Linfen city in Shanxi province.
Event Date 8/11/2023
Author: Danlei Zhou

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Description (Physical description)
bùbì. Small flat copper alloy spade money. Trapezoidal head, tapering towards blade; blade with squared shoulders, slightly concave sides, obtuse-angled crutch, and squared feet. A central vertical raised ridge and inscription of Chinese characters '平陽' Píngyáng on the obverse; one vertical raised ridge at the centre and two at oblique angles on the reverse. Green patina.
Event Date 8/11/2023
Author: Eleanor Wilkinson