Wei State spade-money at The British Museum, London

myminifactory

The earliest forms of money in China were shaped after everyday tools such as spades and knives. These shapes were possible due to the fact that coins were cast in molds, allowing for the creation of various forms. Spade money closely resembled real agricultural tools, with the hollow handle originally serving as a socket for a wooden handle. These spades were made to standard sizes for use as currency. During the Warring States period (475-221 BC), different states used distinct forms of spade money. Several weight systems were reflected on the inscriptions found on these currencies. The ancient Chinese state of Wei was located between Qin and Qi, covering parts of modern-day Henan, Hebei, Shanxi, and Shandong. An old legend tells that an unnamed "King of Wei" is featured in one of China's canonical tales of homosexual love. The king had a favorite named Lord Long Yang, with whom he enjoyed fishing. One day, Long began to weep when questioned about his tears, saying he saw his own future in how he treated a fish. Initially happy to have caught it, Long Yang wanted to throw the fish back when he caught an even better one. He wept, "I am also a previously-caught fish! I will also be thrown back!" To show his devotion to Long Yang, the king declared that anyone who dared speak of other beauties would be executed along with their entire family. This object is part of the non-profit initiative "Scan The World", introduced by MyMiniFactory. This project aims to create a digital archive of fully 3D printable sculptures, artworks, and landmarks from across the globe for public access. Scan The World is an open-source community effort; if you have interesting items around you and would like to contribute, email stw@myminifactory.com to find out how you can help. This object was scanned using photogrammetry and processed with Agisoft PhotoScan.