China - Early Imperial. XIN: Wang Mang, 7-23 AD, AE 900 cash (12.57g), H-9.28a, ci bu jiu bai (lower spade, [value] nine hundred), part of the "Ten Spades" series cast from AD 10-14, VF, ex Charles Opitz Collection. Wang Mang was a nephew of the Dowager Empress Wang, and during his time as her regent he usurped the throne, and founded the Xin Dynasty. He introduced a number of currency reforms which met with varying degrees of success. During the third reform, in AD 10, Wang Mang issued the "Ten Spades" series and according to the History of Han: "The people became bewildered and confused, and these coins did not circulate. They secretly used Wu Zhu coins for their purchases."
