This ancient Chinese coin from the Yuan dynasty › Kublai Khan "Shizu" (元世祖) (1271-1294), from the Empire of China, bears the inscription of Zhiyuan Tongbao in regular script. The coin, made in China, is believed to have been used in temple transactions. Its fractional cash denomination and historical significance make it a valuable addition to any coin collection.

During the Yuan dynasty, there was a preference for paper money and silver ingots, making actual coins scarce or rare. However, the Yuan dynasty emperors supported Buddhism, and allowed temples to cast their own statues and artifacts. These temple coins were originally cast as offerings to Buddha, but due to their metal content, they still had an intrinsic value. While they were not official issues, these were widely accepted and used as small change in the markets.

With these not being official issues, there are different diameters and weights possible. The average weights seem to be around 1/2 Cash, but smaller and larger weights exist.