Digital museum showcasing the collection of worldwide legends over the years! 千古不朽博物館展示多年來收藏的世界傳奇故事!
Qing Dynasty
Xuantong Treasure Coin,1 Candareen
Xuantong 2nd year,Tibet
清
宣統寶藏一分
宣統二年
西藏造
Item number: A172
Year: AD 1910
Material: Copper
Size: 26.8 x 26.8 x 1.5 mm
Weight: 6.05 g
Manufactured by: Tibet, Zhashi Mint
Provenance: Spink 2023
This copper coin is a 1 candareen denomination “Xuantong Treasure Coin” minted in the 2nd year of the Xuantong era (AD 1910) at the Zhashi Mint located north of Lhasa. On the obverse side of the coin, there is a central design of four-petal flowers enclosed within a circular band. Surrounding this design, arranged clockwise, are the four characters “Xuantong Treasure Coin” in Chinese script. The lower portion of the character “Tong” has suffered erosion and is no longer discernible.
On the reverse side of the coin, within the central circular band, there is a four-clawed dragon facing right. Surrounding this central motif is the inscription “Xuantong Treasure Coin” spelled out in Tibetan script, accompanied by two five-petal flowers as decoration. The lower right corner between the petals originally contained Tibetan characters, but due to age-related erosion, they are now illegible.
In the 19th year of the Guangxu reign (AD 1893), following the signing of the “Convention Between Great Britain and China Relating to Sikkim and Tibet (AD 1890),” Britain established free trade with Tibet, using India as its base, which led to a significant influx of British goods and Indian rupees into Tibet. This influx exerted pressure on and disrupted Tibet’s indigenous industries and currency.
In the first year of the Xuantong era (AD 1909), the Tibetan government decided to implement currency reform and established the Zhashi Mint in Lhasa, the first mechanized mint operated by hydraulic power, to mint indigenous silver and copper coins. The following year, in the second year of the Xuantong era (AD 1910), the mint was taken over by Lian Yu, the last Imperial Commissioner-Resident of Tibet, who minted the new copper coins of one candareen and another denomination of half candareen, making them the only copper coins in Tibetan history to feature both Tibetan and Chinese inscriptions.
With the outbreak of the Xinhai Revolution in AD 1911, turmoil erupted among the Qing troops stationed in Lhasa, leading to the expulsion of Imperial Commissioner-Resident Lian Yu by the Tibetan government the following year. This event marked the end of Qing rule in Tibet, and the minting of these copper coins ceased, thus entering history.