China, 960-976 AD., Northern Song dynasty, emperor Tai Zu, 1 Cash, Hartill 16.2c.

China, Northern Song dynasty (960-1127 AD.), emperor: Tai Zu (T'ai Tsu) (960-976), reign title: Song Yuan (960-976), Kaifeng(?) mint, issued 960-976 AD.,
1 Cash (25-26 mm / 3,07 g),
Obv.: 宋 元 通 寳 , Song Yuan Tong Bao, four large chinese characters (Li script), top-down-right-left around square center hole.
Rev.: dot beneath square center hole (mintmark).
Schjöth 451 ; Hartill 16.2c .

Emperor Tai Zu (960-976) was the first emperor of the Song Dynasty and established its capital at Kaifeng in Henan. Coins were cast in very large quantities. Song Yuan, meaning "inauguration of the Song", commemorating the establishment of the Song dynasty. Many of the song yuan tong bao coins have dots (stars) and crescents (moons) in various positions on their reverse sides.