The reverse is blank while the inscription on the front is in regular (kai) script. The Tanguts imitated the Chinese Song system of currency production, using the traditional Chinese coin – round with a square hole, with one cash as the main denomination, but also with two-cash coins but relatively few in number. They produced both copper and iron coins and coins with Chinese and with Tangut inscriptions. The inscription on this Da de tong bao coin is in Chinese and it was issued, in both a large and a small type, under the Dade reign period of the Tangut emperor Chongzong. The calligraphic style is similar to the Chinese Yuande coins but with a Tangut feel. (Wang Yuanxue)