Numiartis continues its numismatic biography of the Five Tiger Generals, with the controversial Ma Chao

Numiartis continues its run through the legendary Five Tiger Generals of Chinese lore with Ma Chao, the third in the series. The warlord, who died in 222 AD, was not well liked in his time, or by most historians since, and he was considered a cruel and partisan figure. Hardly surprising given be various betrayals, abandoning his family, and murdering in cold blood the members of others. Liu Bei, in his novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, tried to rehabilitate Ma Chao, but the historical record seems clear enough – he was a scumbag.

As with the previous two releases, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei, the coin eschews antiquing for a striking black proof finish, with some gold highlighting on the obverse face. Continuing the practice of depicting the general on horseback, it’s another quite intense composition, leaving no doubt as to the nature of the individual. A traditional Chinese background completes the picture, filling every part of this face.

The obverse is, again, a unique one, carrying over the design ethos, but with all new elements. The gilded part is a pair of tasselled halberds of the period, and a pair of tigers also join the decorated background, itself also unique to this coin. As we’ve often stated, it’s great to see such custom work on the obverse face of coins like these, rather than just an effigy, or national emblem. Another nice issue in this three-ounce silver series, it’s available to order now, and comes boxed with a Certificate of Authenticity.

Reverse face close-ups

Romance of the Three Kingdoms: Five Tiger Generals

The Five Tiger Generals is a popular appellation in Chinese culture for the top five military commanders serving under one lord. Although the term does not appear in Chinese historical records and is not used officially, it has been heavily used in literature texts, folklore, as well as popular culture.

As a romanticized novel based on the history of the Three Kingdoms period, the historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms refers Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Huang Zhong, Ma Chao and Zhao Yun as the “Five Tiger Generals” of Shu Han, one of the Three Kingdoms, led by warlord Liu Bei. In the literature, Liu Bei initially appointed Guan Yu as General Who Destroys Rebels and Lord of Hanshou, Zhang Fei as General Who Subdues Rebels and Lord of Xin, Huang Zhong as General Who Conquers the West, Ma Chao as General Who Pacifies the West, and Zhao Yun General Who Guards the West, and promoted them to “Five Tiger Generals” later. Guan Yu is one of Liu Bei’s strongest generals in the novel.

Together with Zhang Fei, he started following Liu Bei’s leadership at a very early stage of Liu Bei’s career, at which time the Han dynasty was experiencing the large-scale Yellow Turban Rebellion. He joined a militia that was led by Liu Bei, funded by local business groups in Zhuo County. He impressed Liu Bei at their first meet-up due to his physical strength and outgoing personality, and quickly formed a brotherly relationship with Liu Bei and Zhang Fei. He rose from fighting Yellow Turbans, commanded Liu Bei’s navy, conquered Changsha, governed Jing Province, expanded Shu Han’s territory to Cao Wei-controlled Fancheng. Throughout his career, Guan Yu participated in numerous battles against Cao Wei led by Cao Cao and Eastern Wu led by Sun Quan, and played a critical role in establishment of Shu Han. Due to the might of his arm and his chivalry, Guan Yu is divinized after his death, representing bravery, power, loyalty, righteousness, as well as brotherhood.