Tian Ding Tong Bao / Blank. 33mm, 8.5 grams. Hartill 19.144

Xu Shouhui, originally a cloth vendor and Buddhist monk, led one of the major uprisings against the Yuan dynasty in the mid-14th century. In 1351 he proclaimed himself emperor of the short-lived Tianwan (Heavenly Perfect) dynasty, based in Hubei. His movement, part of the Red Turban rebellions, mixed religious prophecy with anti-Mongol sentiment and attracted wide support. Though he briefly controlled large areas of central China, he was eventually betrayed and killed by his general Chen Youliang in 1360.