Ancient currency on display at Heilongjiang museum

As we celebrate Double 11 today, China's biggest online shopping festival, let's take a look at the ancient currency that made shopping possible. Silver ingots, known as Cheng'an Bao Huo (currency minted during the Cheng'an reign, 1196-1200), date back to the Jurchen Jin Dynasty (1115-1234) and are among China’s first official silver currencies.

The narrow-waisted ingots feature the engraved inscription "one and a half taels" (its currency value), along with official seals and craftsman marks on the front. Small indentations and holes are seen on the sides and obverse, which are ancient anti-counterfeiting marks caused by gas escaping during the casting process.

The rare ingots are now housed at the Museum of Heilongjiang Province.