For centuries, what is now China was a mass of disparate fiefdoms controlled by warlords, and fighting between them was constant. Born in 259 BCE the son of King Zhuangxiang of Qin, he ascended to the throne when just 13 years old, and when Qin was already at war with six other states. By 221 BCE he had done what no other man had managed before him, conquered all the warring states, and unified China for the first time. He died in 210 BCE, having expanded his empire., leaving behind new policies and practices that helped codify the new nation moving forward.

Qin Shi Huang is known today for many different achievements, including the merging of various state boundary walls into the Great Wall, and for the incredible Terracotta Army, a buried mausoleum the size of a small city. Part of that, possibly including his actual tomb, has yet to be uncovered, as archaeologists struggle to work out how to do so without exposing it to the air that did so much damage to the terracotta figures.

Shortly after the unification of China in 221 BCE, the Heirloom Seal of the Realm was created from jade, to mark the emperor’s will on documents. In itself, it could be said to infer authority and legitimacy on the holder via the ‘Mandate of Heaven’. Unfortunately, after over a millennium of use, it was lost to history in the early 900s CE, and few documented descriptions remain. It was said to have five coiling chi dragons carved on top. Seals continued to be important well into the 20th century.

Spectres have reimagined it with this wonderful new coin formed in five ounces of fine silver. It has that cubic shape that defines early Chinese seals, and on its bottom edge are carved eight ancient characters in bird-worm seal script. Sitting atop it is a quite extraordinary mass of nine swirling dragons rising up to meet the central ‘flaming pearl’. Very impressive indeed, and I’d love to see images of the finished article. At 47 x47 x55 mm, it’s a decent size, and it will come n a custom display case with a COA. Dripping with cultural history, this is a fine release, limited to 221 pieces to match the year he unified China. I’d say this could well be their best release of the year, but they have a one-ounce HR Giger coin coming soon, and as a Giger fanatic, I may change my mind…