Date: Western Han (206 BC - AD 8)
Dimensions: Diameter of base 55.25 mm, Height 27.95 mm
Material: Gold

• Object Type：
  • COINS
• Tag：
  • ingot horseshoe western han gold

In 221 BC, Qin Shi Huang unified the whole country and stipulated that gold was the upper grade currency and ‘Banliang coin’ the lower grade to be in circulation as the country's legal tender. The early Han continued to mint Banliang coins and used gold to measure the currency value. 
U-shaped ingot (horseshoe ingot) refers to the gold currency shaped like a horseshoe. According to historical records, U-shaped ingot was minted in the second year of Taishi of Emperor Wu of Western Han (95 BC) as an auspicious sign. Gold currency at that time was generally used for large transactions.