Reverse: plain

      On 15 May 1977 member of the community Lindong of aimak Balinzozi <in Inner Mongolia - V.B.> comrade Shi Yuilan have found silver coin with Kidan inscription in 1 km on the west from location of the Liao dynasty city Shangjing ('Upper Capital') < First Liao dynasty capital was Linhuangfu in Shangjing (south of present-day Bairin Left Banner in Inner Mongolia). In 916 AD once more capital was established north of the Xar Moron River and named Huangdu (imperial capital; later called Shangjing). See here - V.B.>. He donated this coin to a local Culture Palace <kind of cultural organization or club in PRC, former Soviet Union, present day Russia and some other countries - V.B.>. Currently this coin is in the museum of aimak Balinzozi. Diameter 4 sm, thickness less than 0.2 sm, weight - 21 g. On the obverse are 4 large Kidan relief characters. On the reverse side engraved eight Kidan characters and this inscription, just as obverse legend, continues to be studied (pic.1).
      Earlier already where known at least 3 types of copper coins with obverse inscription, similar to obverse legend of this silver coin. Rubbing of one of this coins have Mr.Jin Zi..., size and characters order are the same as of this silver coin (it is 1^st type). Rubbing of another copper coin (diameter 6 sm) with the same order of characters have Mr. Jia Jingyan (2^nd type). And finally Mr. Jia Jingyan have rubbing of once more copper coin with Kidan characters, diameter is the same as silver coin, while order of left and bottom characters is different than on this silver coin (3^rd type, pic.2) <it is the same type as scanned image presented here - V.B.>. Current location of those 3 copper coins is unknown.
      It is known during a long time that silver coin with Kidan inscription is holded in Balinzozi museum. However, one of this paper authors, Ji Ronggui, have once more silver coin with the same order of characters. Coin diameter is 3.9 sm, thickness 0.35 sm, weight 31 g (pic.3). As written in the article by Wan Youngjun and Li Guohui, in the Keshketan (?) aimak was found golden coin with Kidan legend. Also is information that not so long ago in the Liaoning province was found iron coin with the same Kidan inscription. So coins, made from gold, silver, copper and iron with Kidan legend are known. We hope that "earth don't like to hide treasures" and we'll know soon about new findings. <Further in the article are learned Kidan coin legends, different readings etc. - S.S.>

      Silver coin of the Liao dynasty with Kidan inscription was found in 1977 in Upper Capital of Liao (Shangjing) (in location of the aimak Balinzozi in Inner Mongolia). Similar coins with the same inscription are known, but they produced from different metals (including copper). Inscription was made by simplified Kidan script with large characters ( ), on the reverse engraved inscription in small Kidan characters. Obverse inscription have few variants of reading, for example:

• Tian Zan Wu Wan - heaven assist in fifty thousand [years] (?);
  
• Tian Lu Tong Bao - heaven prosperity current coin;
  
• Tian Chao Wan Sui - heaven dynasty ten thousand years.
  

      Not so long ago in the region of the Chifen town was found gold coin with Kidan characters. Reverse of the coin is plain. Detailed learning of the obverse inscriptions shows traces of the casting error. Diameter 31 mm, thickness 2.2 mm, central hole 6.2 mm, weight 16.6 g. Pure gold content about 80%.
      As written in 14^th scroll of the "History of the Liao" (Liao Shi), in 20^th year of the reign title tonghe Emperor Sheng Zong of the Liao dynasty (1002 AD) "in December ... governor in the region Zijinshan and Tuhechuan ... donated ... gold money" <text in the Liao Shi is written in old-Chinese literary language wenyang, so it is very hard for translation - S.S.>, so it can be concluded that during Liao dynasty gold coins were in circulation <in my opinion from this passage can be only concluded that gold coins exists. Probably it were special donative issues which used as awards, gifts etc. in limited transactions. - V.B.>.