Editing Han dynasty (section)

===Currency===
{{multiple image|align=right |direction=horizontal |header= |header_align=left/right/center |footer= |footer_align=left |image1=S-114 W Han wuzhu, Han Wudi, 140-87, 25 5mm.jpg |width1=230 |caption1=A ''wuzhu'' ({{lang|zh|五銖}}) coin issued during the reign of [[Emperor Wu of Han|Emperor Wu]] ({{reign|141|87&nbsp;BC}}), 25.5&nbsp;mm in diameter |image2=|width2=130 |caption2=A spade-shaped bronze coin issued during [[Wang Mang]]'s ({{reign|9|23&nbsp;AD}}) reign.}}
[[File:金饼 海昏侯国遗址.JPG|thumb|Gold coins from the Eastern Han]]

The Han dynasty inherited the ''[[Ancient Chinese coinage#Ban Liang coins|ban liang]]'' coin type from the Qin. In the beginning of the Han, Emperor Gaozu closed the [[Mint (coin)|government mint]] in favour of private minting of coins. This decision was reversed in 186&nbsp;BC by his widow [[Empress Lü Zhi|Grand Empress Dowager Lü Zhi]] ({{died-in|180&nbsp;BC}}), who abolished private minting.{{sfnp|Nishijima|1986|p=586}} In 182&nbsp;BC, Lü Zhi issued a bronze coin that was much lighter in weight than previous coins. This caused widespread [[inflation]] that was not reduced until 175&nbsp;BC, when Emperor Wen allowed private minters to manufacture coins that were precisely {{cvt|2.6|g}} in weight.{{sfnp|Nishijima|1986|p=586}}

In 144&nbsp;BC, Emperor Jing abolished private minting in favour of central-government and commandery-level minting; he also introduced a new coin.{{sfnp|Nishijima|1986|pp=586–587}} Emperor Wu introduced another in 120&nbsp;BC, but a year later he abandoned the ''ban liangs'' entirely in favour of the ''[[Ancient Chinese coinage#Western Han and the Wu Zhu coins|wuzhu]]'' coin, weighing {{cvt|3.2|g}}.{{sfnp|Nishijima|1986|p=587}} The ''wuzhu'' became China's standard coin until the [[Tang dynasty]] (618–907). Its use was interrupted briefly by several new currencies introduced during Wang Mang's regime until it was reinstated in 40&nbsp;AD by Emperor Guangwu.{{sfnp|Ebrey|1986|p=609}}{{sfnp|Bielenstein|1986|pp=232–233}}{{sfnp|Nishijima|1986|pp=587–588}}

Since commandery-issued coins were often of inferior quality and lighter weight, the central government closed commandery mints and monopolized the issue of coinage in 113&nbsp;BC. This central government issuance of coinage was overseen by the [[Government of the Han dynasty#Superintendent of Waterways and Parks|Superintendent of Waterways and Parks]], this duty being transferred to the Minister of Finance during the Eastern Han.{{sfnp|Nishijima|1986|pp=587–588}}{{sfnp|Bielenstein|1980|pp=47, 83}}