Asian coins show the diversity of these countries and their
coinage does give insight into the country.
Kings and Dynasty minted their image on many coins to show
people they had power over them.
Even today we have king Thailand on the local currency and
image must be respected or you could face jail if you deliberately damaged this
image of the king on their coin.
Ancient china minted some of the worlds first coins, but they
were not minted, but made by cast in moulds with a square hole so people could
wear these coins around their neck instead on pockets
These moulds were made bronze, not clay to try and make
uniformity in the coins.
One Chinese Dynasty the Han, made 220 million coins this way,
so ancient Chinese coins are not as rare and valuable as you might think.
Japan made coins from 8th century but replied on Chinese
coinage for centuries. The silver slug, was the countries first silver coinage followed
by rectangular coins in gold and silver but after the arrival of western countries
the mint changed to round coins.
India also has deep history and produced coins in Iron Age,
c.700 BCE, used Cowry shells before that
India has so many different regions who produced their own
coinage over 2700 years till British coinage and colonialization and then
independence.
Most Asian countries started silver coinage but not many
used gold
India made the purity Fanams in the 17th century
Asian countries that were colonized by Great Brittan adopted
the currency of Britain and Queen or king on reverse of this coinage. majority
coinage was silver in those days and are highly collectible by coin dealers
Today most coinage in Asia is basic metal brass, nickel and
plated
