Bronze Seal of "Record of Maichaoku of Jingjiang Prefecture"

This is an official seal of the Song Dynasty, which generally presents a square shape and is made with a straight handle and a square knob. The seal surface is engraved in relief and a seal-script inscription "Record of Maichaoku of Jingjiang Prefecture". Both sides of the knob at the back are respectively carved with two rows of running-script inscription: "The Tenth Year of Shaoxing Era" and "Cast by Wensi Manufacturing Bureau ". The business of salt was run by the imperial court during the Song Dynasty. The state firstly printed salt coupons and salt notes. Salt dealers needed to exchange salt coupons with metal currency or paper notes and then exchange these salt coupons for salt notes. Then they would submit for inspection with the obtained salt notes and acquire salt for sales. Maichaoku was an institute for exchanging salt notes. The Law of Salt Notes was implemented in Guangxi in the 8th year of Shaoxing era (1138). This seal was cast two years later.