A Chinese collector braided 10,000 ancient coins, which were made during under the rein of Emperor Tang Xuanzong (713-742), or the heyday of during imperial Tang dynasty (618-970), into a one-quarter-ton sword, and is applying to be listed in the Guinness Book of Records.

Wang Aipu, the collector in this capital of north China's Shanxi province, spent one and a half years in making the "Blessing Sword" to mark the 2,500th anniversary of the founding of the city this year.

The sword is 4.12 meters long, a symbolizing four seasons and 12 months in a year. It is 250 millimeters wide and weighs 250 kilograms, both denoting the city's 2,500th anniversary.

The sword is to be shown to the public during the Chinese National Day holiday that falls from Oct. 1 to 7.
 
(Xinhua News Agency September 24, 2003)