China - Early Imperial. NORTHERN ZHOU: Anonymous, 557-581, AE cash (3.51g), H-13.30, wu xing da bu, a lovely example! VF to EF. The legend translates as the large coin of the five elements [metal, wood, water, fire, and earth], issued in 574 by Emperor Wu. They were intended to be worth ten bu quan coins, but illegal coining soon produced specimens of a reduced weight and the authorities banned the use of this coin in 576.
