Watch List notes:

CHINA. Northern Song Dynasty. Group of 10 Cash (10 Pieces), ND (1102-06). Hui Zong (Chong Ning). All NGC Genuine Certified.
Hartill-16.407; FD-1050. Variety with large characters and short feet on 'bao'. Most coins have a thick dusty patina that varies in color from green to dark blue with patches of tan, but all characters are bold and clear.

The penultimate ruler of the Northern Song dynasty before its flight and reestablishment in the south, Emperor Huizong reigned for the first quarter of the 12th century, from 1100 until his abdication in favor of his eldest son, Emperor Qinzong, in 1126. During his reign, the Northern Song reached its territorial zenith, bordering the Dai Viet and Dali to the south, the Tibetans and Western Xia to the west, and the Liao to the north. In spite of possessing a vast realm, Emperor Huizong proved to be a rather ineffective ruler, spending much of his time as a patron of the arts rather than overseeing state affairs. Poetry, music, and paintings were all given great attention by the emperor, as well as something for which he was widely known-calligraphy.

Throughout much of Chinese numismatics and until the very end of the end of the empire, coinage took a very formulaic approach, with much of the vast output taking the form of cast-usually in bronze-coins known as "cash." These simplistic pieces generally had square openings at the center allowing for multiples-often in groups of 100-to be strung together for ease of accounting and trade. Four characters would generally occupy the four corners of the obverse, with the reverse usually remaining blank. While these characters featured varying styles of script, Emperor Huizong's noted skills in calligraphy demanded that he offer his input and artistry. During the early portion of his reign (1102-1106), a series of mostly 10 Cash denominated issues employed his own personal calligraphic style, known as the "shòu jīn" (slender gold) script. This iconic writing was admired for its "iron strokes" and "silver hooks," presenting a forceful yet elegant overall appearance. Contemporaneous with these "slender gold" issues was a series featuring the rather ubiquitous "seal script," whereby the characters took upon a softer, far less jagged look, with many perpendicular and parallel lines. This form of script also presents a degree of elegance through its seemingly malleable approach.

Despite the direction and overall stability of the Northern Song dynasty during the reign of Emperor Huizong, the cash coins from this period offer a glimpse into his desire for elegance and artistry, and an overall push toward the aesthetic. This numismatic beauty can be seen as camouflaging the political roiling which was taking place and ultimately caused the shrinking and forced moving of the Northern Song to simply the dynasty's portion in the south.

Estimate: $600.00- $900.00