Circular 'TLV' Mirror, Xin Dynasty, AD 9-24 (bronze)

The back of the mirror is centered by a knob set within a square cast with twelve small nipples alternating with twelve characters representing the Twelve Branches, surrounded by four 'T' motifs flanked by pairs of nipples and thread-relief birds and scrolls, all encircled by an inscription. The outer field is also cast in thread relief with the Guardians of the Four Directions - the Blue Dragon, Red Bird, White Tiger and the Dark Warrior - flanked by 'L' and 'V' motifs and alternating with animals and a Daoist immortal, within a hatchured border and below sawtooth and cloud bands on the rim. The inscription band and the Guardians are picked out in a silvery coating.