N. Song - Emp. Tai Zong Cash

Emperor Tai Zong (979 - 997 A.D.) During this reign there were more mints in operation and the Emperor himself is said to have written the inscriptions. He was a noted calligrapher and scholar. These were supposed to have a nominal weight of 1 qain (this one 25 mm , 3.83 g). Obverse: Zhi Dao yuan bao, clockwise and written in 'Grass' script and cast in 995 - 997 AD. Hartill H 16.42 characters crowded around hole type.
Four Chinese ideograms read clockwise (in Grass script).
Script: Chinese (traditional, grass script)
Lettering:
　至
寶　道
　元
Translation:
Zhi Dao Yuan Bao
Zhidao (5th era of Taizong, 995-997) / Original currency