New light on old money

More than 500 coins from olden-day China and about 100 statues from places along the ancient Silk Road are displayed at a Beijing museum. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Two coins, which were found in Hotan, Xinjiang, called "Hotan horse money", are his favorites and among the exhibits. They are from between the first and third century AD, and Jin says there are only about 200 such coins in existence.

"These coins are a good example of communication between East and West," he says.

On one side of the coin, there is an image of a sacred horse, which is rooted in Bactrian culture (from Afghanistan), plus a Kharosthi script (a distinct language once used in Pakistan and Afghanistan) and it was made using a Greek molding method.

On the other side of the coin, there are Chinese characters, and the weight of the copper coin is defined by zhu, a measurement unit from the Han Dynasty.

Pei Manyi, curator of the exhibition, says: "We often find three or four languages on one coin. This proves that the currency was used by several countries."

Pei adds that the coins also provide crucial evidence when studying myths, religions, craftsmanship and linguistics along the ancient Silk Road.