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How did Emperor Wudi standardize Han coinage?

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Map showing the Han Empire's territory around 100 BCE, shaded in orange, covering much of eastern China and extending westward. The map also marks the boundary of modern China and highlights the Great Wall running along the northern frontier, built for protection against the Huns. Major rivers and the capital, Chang'an (Xi'an), are labeled. — Han dynasty Map showing the extent of the Han empire c. 100 bce.

Emperor Wudi standardized Han coinage by centralizing control over the currency and establishing a uniform medium of exchange.

In 112 BCE, the government took final measures to limit the minting of coins exclusively to state agencies. This reform replaced the previous pan-liang coins—which had seen their official weight gradually reduced—with a new five-grain (chu) piece. This five-grain coin became the standard copper coin for the remainder of the Han dynasty and served as the primary medium of exchange for the next three centuries.12

These actions were part of a broader effort during Wudi’s reign to bring China’s economic resources under government control, which also included the establishment of state monopolies on salt, iron, and wine to generate revenue for his extensive military campaigns and state undertakings.31