Rare Wu Zhu cash, Southern Qi dynasty (479-502 CE), cast c. 482-490 CE, Northern and Southern Dynasties period, China

Wu Zhu / Blank. 19mm, 0.82 grams. Gratzer/Fishman "One Thousand Years of Wu Zhu Coinage" #B8.2; Hartill -.

Rare, only recently identified.

The Southern Qi dynasty (479–502 CE) was a brief yet notable Chinese dynasty during the era of the Southern and Northern Dynasties, ruling over southern China from its capital at Jiankang (modern Nanjing). Founded by Xiao Daocheng (Emperor Gao), the dynasty carried forward traditions of Buddhist patronage, refined court culture, and administrative continuity. Despite early stability, it was marked by court intrigue and political violence, especially under later emperors, leading to its fall in 502 CE when Xiao Yan founded the Liang dynasty. 

An intriguing aspect of Southern Qi material culture is its distinctive coinage, which until recently remained unidentified. Now generally accepted as belonging to this dynasty (since around 2009), these coins are typically found only in Sichuan. They are small, thin, and poorly cast, usually featuring a large central hole, with little attention paid to uniformity or rim detail. Several variations of these coins have been recorded, reflecting a regional and somewhat informal minting tradition that contrasts with the more refined coinage of other dynasties.