An Ancient Chinese Coin From The 11th Century Found In England Suggests Medieval Trade With The Far East Was More Commonplace Than Previously Thought
In 2021, an ancient Chinese coin from the 11th century was found in England, indicating that medieval trade between England and the Far East was more commonplace than previously believed. A metal detector was used to find the small copper coin in a field in Hampshire, England.
The coin was from the Northern Song Dynasty, dating back between 1008 and 1016 A.D. It was the second medieval Chinese coin to have been discovered in England. The first was unearthed in Cheshire in 2018.
Researchers from the British Museum noted that the 2018 discovery was most likely not a genuine medieval artifact.
Instead, it was probably lost in the area from a private curated collection. However, the discovery of the second coin increased the chances of them being true medieval finds.
The presence of Chinese coins in England can be explained by historical documentation of an Englishman who served as an envoy in the 1240s from the Mongol emperor Genghis Khan. Additionally, records indicated that a Mongol envoy paid a visit to Edward II in 1313.
Both 11th-century coins were uncovered by treasure hunters in areas rich with similar medieval artifacts.
The 2021 coin was located approximately 20 miles away from the only medieval Chinese pottery in England. The pottery fragment was of blue and white porcelain from a small bowl or cup.
Other previous finds nearby included two 16th-century coins and a coin of King John that was minted between 1205 and 1207.
The coin from 2018 was dug up along with two Roman coins, two late medieval lead weights, rings, musket balls and more.
Andy Evans Photos – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purposes only
“Such a potential 13th or 14th-century context for the arrival of an 11th-century Chinese coin in Britain is not only supported by the archaeological evidence but also by documentary sources,” said Cambridge historian Caitlin Green.
“These texts make reference to both the presence of people who have, or may have, traveled from these regions in Britain during the 13th and 14th centuries.”
From 960 to 1125 A.D., the Northern Song Dynasty ruled China. During this period, China’s economy was flourishing.
Paper, textile, and porcelain goods were sold along the Silk Road, an ancient network of trade routes that transported items between Chinese and Roman civilizations.
During the medieval era, the Chinese exchanged a number of artifacts with Europeans, such as a 14th-century vessel called the Marco Polo jar.
The medieval coins in England were likely minted during the rule of Emperor Shenzong of Song. He reigned from 1067 to 1085 A.D. The coins continued to be in circulation after the end of the dynasty in the 1120s.
They were of such high quality that they lasted even 200 years later, with 88 percent of Chinese coins manufactured during the Northern Song era in circulation. Overall, the coins told archaeologists a lot about global trade and its reach in medieval Britain.
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