The Yangzhou Museum recently co-hosted a unique exhibition with the Aksu Museum, featuring more than 1,400 currency coins of various types issued by countries on the Silk Road, which is now open in its special exhibition hall.

Bronze coins are showcased at the Yangzhou Museum. [Photo/yznews.cn]

The ancient Silk Road trade routes served as vital conduits for connecting China with other nations through commercial and cultural exchanges. The currencies that circulated along these routes acted as living witnesses to economic conditions, friendly interactions and mutually beneficial exchanges.

The exhibits trace the evolution of currency in central China, while also showcasing regional mintages from Xiyu, which refers to China's western regions, and ancient coinages of Persia, Sogdia, and other civilizations.

Shell coins are showcased at the Yangzhou Museum. [Photo/yznews.cn]

Dating from the pre-Qin period (before 221 BC) to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), these artifacts were crafted using diverse materials such as gold and silver and came in a variety of shapes, including squares and circles.

Through the displays of such a wide range of coins, visitors will be taken on a journey spanning millennia, exploring the artistic legacy of Silk Road currencies and the cultural fusion of Chinese and Western civilizations embedded in monetary traditions.