Collections Research volunteer Cludia recently uncovered fascinating insights into one of the earliest forms of currency in China: Spade Money, or Bu Bi (布币). Used during the Zhou Dynasty as weight money, spade money was designed to resemble an agricultural tool, a shovel, valued for its practicality and commonly used for bartering before coins were introduced.
The specific coin Cludia researched is a flat-handled spade money variant, with an arched foot, from the Eastern Zhou Dynasty (c. 771–256 BCE). This particular coin is part of the Powerhouse Collection, Object No: N1585.
Early versions of spade money, known as hollow-handled spades, featured a hollow socket where a handle would be attached. These early coins were heavy and impractical, still transitioning from tools to currency. Over time, the design evolved into the thinner, lighter flat-handled spade money, featuring distinct legs and inscriptions to mark denominations. This transformation made the coins easier to carry and allowed for standardised production, as they could be reliably cast using clay moulds.
The evolution of spade money marked a key moment in China’s economic development, moving from barter to a more formalised trade system. The spade-shaped design also reflects the deep connection between agriculture and the economy in the Zhou Dynasty, with the tool symbolising the importance of farming in sustaining the society. https://youtu.be/7S121Cboopk?si=bWm4G3ZfZmcd1V_Z
Thank you to Cludia for her in-depth research on this object, and for shedding light on its historical significance.
Research and story by volunteer Cludia. Blogpost by Karen Griffiths, (Volunteers Program Officer)