Our studies focus on the production background of early standardized coinage in Qi state before Qin empire’s unification of currency. These mold samples have considerable clay content, possibly to limit thermal expansion and enhance casting strength. Slag types include plate slag and ceramic slag attached on blowpipes. The matrix composition of plate slag is characterized by a high content of iron and calcium, with significant quantities of matte (CuPbFeS) and bronze droplets. The matrix composition of ceramic slag exhibits low content of iron and calcium with some copper droplets. It may be inferred that a smelting process is utilized to extract matte from sulfur-containing copper-lead ores, with the addition of tin occurring nearly concurrently. It is also possible to introduce a distinct step that smelting and alloying are totally separated. The lead isotope ratios of slag and mold samples overlap with each other and concentrate in the range with high ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb ratios. The change of lead resources in Qi knives was synchronized with the change of its alloy composition. We can’t exclude that the lead resources of high ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb ratios used in Qi state came from local areas, and some uranogenic-rich lead resources might be brought in after Yan state’ s conquest. The above research demonstrates that the production of Qi knives exhibited a significant degree of standardization in terms of molding technology, smelting technology, alloying technology and ore source. The implementation of unified coinage system during the Tian Qi period can be seen as a strategic approach to monopolize the minting rights and foster the growth of the commodities economy.

我们的研究重点是秦帝国统一货币之前的齐国早期标准化铸币的产生背景。这些模具样品具有相当大的粘土含量，可能是为了限制热膨胀并提高铸造强度。炉渣类型包括板渣和附着在吹管上的陶瓷渣。板渣的基质成分的特点是铁和钙含量高，并含有大量的冰铜 (CuPbFeS) 和青铜熔滴。陶瓷渣的基体成分铁和钙含量较低，并含有一些铜滴。可以推断，利用熔炼过程从含硫铜铅矿石中提取冰铜，几乎同时添加锡。还可以引入一个独特的步骤，将熔炼和合金化完全分开。炉渣和结晶器样品的铅同位素比值相互重叠，集中在²⁰⁷ Pb/ ²⁰⁶ Pb 比值较高的范围内。齐刀中铅资源的变化与其合金成分的变化是同步的。不能排除齐国使用的高^207Pb / ^206Pb比的铅资源来自于当地, 一些富含铀的铅资源也可能是燕国征服后引入的。上述研究表明，齐刀的生产在成型技术、冶炼技术、合金化技术和矿石来源等方面都表现出明显的标准化程度。天启时期实行统一铸币制度，可以看作是垄断铸币权、促进商品经济发展的战略手段。