Hwacheon

A “hwacheon” is a type of coin minted during China’s Xin Dynasty (founded by Wang Mang). There is a hole in the center of the coin, with the Chinese character “貨” (“hwa”) inscribed on the right of the hole and the character “泉” (“cheon”) on the left. Hwacheon coins serve as excellent chronological markers for dating archaeological sites, and they are also vital historical evidence confirming that people of the Korean Peninsula were actively conducting maritime and land-based exchange with China at that time.