
Some coins showing two Chinese characters Wu Zhu, some are very crudely pieces without characters. 17mm to 20mm. Interesting group, uncleaned, fairly scarce coins, all extremely crude (as cast).
Hartill - (10.13, incorrectly described); Gratzer/Fishman "One Thousand Years of Wu Zhu Coinage" #B7.1-B7.18.
The Eastern Jin dynasty (317–420 AD) was established by Sima Rui, a member of the Jin imperial family, after the Western Jin collapsed under invasions by nomadic groups known as the Wu Hu. With northern China overrun, Sima Rui declared himself emperor in Jiankang (modern Nanjing), forming a southern regime that continued the Jin lineage. Though the dynasty retained imperial legitimacy, it constantly struggled with internal power struggles, court intrigue, and military pressure from the northern states, particularly the Sixteen Kingdoms. The government often relied on powerful warlords and aristocratic families to maintain control, leading to frequent regional instability. Despite these challenges, the Eastern Jin served as a cultural and administrative bridge between the north and south, preserving Han Chinese traditions and governing structures. The dynasty ended in 420 when the general Liu Yu seized power and founded the Liu Song dynasty, beginning the era of the Southern Dynasties.
This coins are unconditionally guaranteed to be authentic.