Item number: A76

Year: AD 1895-1908

Material: Silver

Size: 23.38 x 23.46 mm

Weight: 5.04 g

Manufactured by: Hubei, Hupeh Silver Dollar Bureau

Provenance: Fuchin Coin 2023

This is a “Guangxu Yuanbao” silver coin minted by the “Hupeh Silver Dollar Bureau” established in Wuchang, the provincial capital of Hubei. Its face value is indicated as 1 mace and 4.4 candareens, following the tax weight standard of the Qing Dynasty. The coin has a circular shape with a serrated edge, and some of the serrations have been worn smooth, almost appearing polished.

On the obverse side, the central features a forward-facing coiled dragon. As time passed, many details of the dragon’s head and body have faded. The upper inscription is written in the Wade-Giles system as “HU-PEH PROVINCE,” while the lower inscription indicates the currency value as “1 MACE AND 4.4 CANDAREENS.” Both sides depict an upright six-petal flower, mirroring the design on the reverse.

The reverse side features a concentric circle, within which the Chinese characters “Guangxu Yuanbao” are inscribed in regular script. The central Manchu inscription of “Guangxu Yuanbao” is unclear. The upper inscription states the minting location as “Made in Hubei Province,” while the lower inscription indicates the currency value as “Kuping 1 mace and 4.4 candareens.”

After the Opium Wars, the Qing Empire intensified its trade relations with the Western world. During this process, foreign silver with lower silver content flooded into China, leading to a significant outflow of Chinese Sycee silver with higher silver content. This exacerbated financial difficulties for the government and social unrest. In the 13th year of the Guangxu reign (AD 1887), Zhang Zhidong, the Governor-General of Guangdong and Guangxi, submitted a memorial to the imperial court, requesting permission to introduce machinery from the British Birmingham mint to establish a mint in Guangdong to produce silver coins. Following approval, production of the “Guangxu Yuanbao” began in Guangdong in the 15th year of Guangxu’s reign (AD 1889), marking the initiation of machine-struck currency in China.

Just as Guangdong was preparing to start production, Zhang Zhidong was transferred to the position of Governor-General of Hubei, Hunan in July. It wasn’t until August of the 19th year of Guangxu’s reign (AD 1893) that Zhang, in conjunction with the Governor of Hubei, jointly submitted a memorial requesting the establishment of the second mint in China in Hubei. This request was promptly approved by the central Ministry of Revenue in September. In the 21st year of Guangxu’s reign (AD 1895), with the arrival of machinery from Germany and the hiring of British technicians, the Hupeh Silver Dollar Bureau, located at the Sanfoge in Wuchang, began production.

In response to the currency shortage in the Hubei region, Zhang, in order to alleviate the situation, initially issued a version of the Guangxu Yuanbao with the inscription “This Province” on the obverse side. However, the effectiveness of this measure was limited, and most of these coins were eventually recalled and melted down to produce Guangxu Tongbao, with a total of five denominations. (See table below)

In the 2nd year of Xuantong (AD 1910), Hubei Silver Coin Bureau and Hubei Copper Coin Bureau merged to form the Wuchang Mint, which continued operational until the 9th year of the Republic of China (AD 1920) when it ceased production.

物件編號: A76

年代: 公元 1895-1908 年

材質: 銀

尺寸: 23.38 x 23.46 mm

重量: 5.04 g

製造地: 湖北, 湖北銀元局

來源: 福君錢幣 2023

此硬幣為建於湖北省府武昌的「湖北銀元局」鑄造之「光緒元寶」銀幣，其面額依照清代納稅的制式重量「庫平」標示為一錢四分四釐 。硬幣外廓為圓型，側邊帶有齒邊，部分齒邊已磨損近乎光邊。

硬幣正面的中央為一隻正面蟠龍，龍頭細節因時代久遠已些許模糊，卻仍大抵可見。上環的英文是以威妥瑪系統拼寫的「湖北省」(HU-PEH PROVINCE)。下環的英文則是幣值「一錢四分四釐」(1 MACE AND 4.4 CANDAREENS)。兩側跟背面的設計相同，於左右兩側各有一朵直立六瓣花作裝飾。

背面有一道珠圈，珠圈內有中文楷書「光緒元寶」四字，正中央則以滿文鐫刻「光緒元寶」。上環鐫刻鑄造地「湖北省造」，下環為貨幣價值「庫平一錢四分四釐」。

鴉片戰爭後，清帝國跟西方世界日益頻繁的貿易過程中，含銀量較低的洋銀大舉流入中國，造成含銀量較高的中國紋銀大量外流，加重政府財政困難和社會動盪。光緒13年(公元1887年)，時任兩廣總督的張之洞為此上奏朝廷，奏請從英國喜敦公司引入機器，於廣東設局鑄造銀元。經朝廷奏准後，光緒15年(公元1889年)廣東開始生產「光緒元寶」，開啟中國機鑄貨幣的濫觴。

就在廣東準備投入生產之際，張之洞在7月被調職為湖廣總督一職。直到光緒19年(公元1893年)8月，張之洞方才跟屬下湖北巡撫聯名上奏，奏請在湖北設立中國第二個造幣廠，隨即於9月就得到中央戶部的批准。光緒21年(公元1895年)，隨著德國的機器和聘請的英國技師到位，設址於武昌三佛閣的湖北銀元局旋即投入生產。

張之洞為因應湖北一帶的通貨緊縮，以沿用自廣東省光緒元寶的母模具，首先發行一款在正面鐫刻「本省」字樣的光緒元寶。但是成效不彰，最終多半回收重新熔鑄為光緒通寶，計有五種面額。(見下圖)

宣統2年(公元1910年)，湖北銀元局和湖北銅錢局合併為武昌造幣廠，直到民國9年(公元1920年)方才停產。