Yan State round coin at The British Museum, London

myminifactory

During ancient times, several regions issued round coins with a central opening, either circular or square in shape. The inscriptions on these coins typically listed a weight or value. This particular coin from the Yan State features its worth in 'huo'. Yan was an ancient Chinese state that existed during the Zhou dynasty. Its capital city was Ji, which is now modern-day Beijing. Occasionally, the court would relocate to another capital at Xiadu. The history of Yan began during the Western Zhou period in the early first millennium BCE. When the authority of the Zhou king waned during the Spring and Autumn Period in the 8th century BCE, Yan persevered and emerged as one of China's strongest states. During the Warring States period from the 5th to 3rd centuries BCE, Yan was among the last regions conquered by Qin Shihuang's armies: Yan fell in 222 BCE, a year before the declaration of the Qin Empire. After the collapse of the Qin dynasty in 207 BCE, Yan experienced a brief interval of independence but eventually became part of the victorious Han.