China - Ancient. WARRING STATES: State of Qi, 400-200 BC, AE knife money (49.98g), H-4.6, three-character knife, qi fa huo (the authorized currency of Qi) in archaic script on obverse, reverse with three lines, qi or bi on reverse which is not visible on this example, weak characters, usual encrustation, Fine. The Qi Knife Money evolved from an ancient Chinese bronze implement with a ring at the end, this ancient knife was known as a xue. While knife money is shaped like a knife, the Qi Knives were never actually used as actual knives.