String of cash coins (currency unit)

A string of cash coins refers to a method of organizing and handling cash coins, primarily in historical East Asian economies, particularly China, Korea, Vietnam, and Japan. Cash coins were typically round bronze or copper coins with a square hole in the center. These holes allowed the coins to be strung together using a cord or string, usually made of hemp, cotton, or other natural fibers.

The stringing of cash coins served several important purposes:

• Portability: A string of coins made it easier to carry large quantities of currency. Rather than loose coins, a standardized string was more manageable and less likely to be lost.
• Standardization: While the quality and weight of individual coins could vary, the standardization of the number of coins per string (typically 100, 500, or 1000) provided a convenient unit of account for transactions. This helped to minimize the need to constantly count individual coins.
• Storage: Strings of coins were easier to store and transport than loose coins. They could be bundled together and kept in chests or other containers.
• Facilitation of Trade: By providing a readily identifiable and portable unit of currency, strings of cash coins facilitated both local and regional trade.

The value of a string of coins was generally determined by the face value of the coins it contained. However, market forces could also influence the value, particularly if the quality of the coins was poor or if there was a shortage of cash coins. The number of coins in a string could also vary depending on the region and the time period. While nominally 1000 cash coins constituted a "string," often the string might contain slightly fewer due to breakage or removal of coins over time.