Journey of Money: From Constantinople to Chang'an: From Constantinople to Chang'an

Author: Yu Taishan
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2004-06-01
Features: The strength bestowed upon the Romans by God is also evident in this aspect; all nations used Roman gold coins for trade. On the face of the earth, every place accepted Roman coins. People and nations all over the world envied and cherished them. Such achievements were unmatched by anyone (Cosmas: Christian Topography, 6th century). The Great Qin Empire used gold and silver as currency. Silver coins were worth ten times those of gold, and the country was prosperous. When envoys from neighboring states arrived at the border, they were sent by post to the capital, where they were given gold coins (Fan Ye: Book of the Later Han·Biographies of the Western Regions, 5th century). Coins were not merely a medium of exchange to facilitate trade, but also a tool for rulers to conduct political propaganda and a carrier of different cultures. Along the Silk Road, different ethnic groups treated these coins in various ways, adding new meanings to them. From Constantinople to Chang'an, the eastern journey of the solidus coins reflects the complex historical tapestry of Eurasia. A thousand years later, it is through these small coins that we once again have the opportunity to relive the grandeur of the Silk Road.