WARRING STATES: State of Qi, 400-200 BC, AE knife money, 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, Fine. 181mm, 49.98 grams. Hartill 4.6. 

Weak characters, with only traces visible, usual encrustation for this type. From a private US collection, Ex-Album.

The large State of Qi three-character knives are among the most remarkable forms of early Chinese coinage, dating to the Warring States period (circa 4th–3rd century BCE). Issued by the State of Qi, one of the most powerful states of the time, these impressive bronze coins are distinguished by their large size, bold shape resembling stylized knives, and inscriptions bearing three Chinese characters, typically reading Qi Fa Hua (齊法化), meaning "Qi legal currency." Far larger than most contemporaneous coins and other knives, these knife coins likely served not only as currency but also as a symbol of state power and prestige. Today, they are very rare and highly prized by collectors and historians, offering a glimpse into the complex monetary and political systems of pre-imperial China.