Yong An Wu Zhu / Blank. 22mm, 2.26 grams. Hartill 13.23.

Rare coin. These coins were always cast thin and many, like this one, have a few original casting holes.

This coin was issued in the second year of Yongan era (529 CE) by Emperor Xiao Zhuang, and it was cast until 543 under Eastern Wei and Western Wei dynasties.

The Northern Wei Dynasty (386–534 AD) was a powerful dynasty in northern China founded by the Tuoba clan of the Xianbei people, a nomadic group from the northern steppes. Under rulers such as Emperor Xiaowen of Northern Wei, the dynasty unified much of northern China, promoted Buddhism, and implemented major reforms that encouraged the adoption of Chinese language, dress, and administrative practices. Northern Wei is renowned for sponsoring the magnificent Yungang Grottoes and Longmen Grottoes, two of China's greatest collections of Buddhist cave art. Although internal conflicts eventually led to its division into Eastern and Western Wei in 534, the dynasty played a crucial role in the political reunification and cultural development of medieval China.