Item number: A331

Year: AD 1900

Material: Copper

Size: 31.2 x 31.2 mm

Manufactured by: Fengtian Arsenal, Fengtian

Provenance: Fuchin Coin 2024

This is a copper coin from the 26th year of Guangxu (AD 1900), trial minted by the Fengtian Arsenal, known as “Guangxu Tongbao”. The coin was produced using milling method, retaining the traditional Chinese square-hole design. The obverse of the coin bears the inscription “Guangxu Tongbao,” while the reverse, in a counterclockwise direction, reads “Made of pure copper by Fengtian Arsenal, valued at ten coins, weighing 2 Mace 4 Candareens.” This inscription not only reveals the minting location of the coin but also provides information on its material, denomination, and weight.

Compared to brass mixed with zinc, the use of pure copper made this coin more expensive to produce. This is why, after considering the practises of other provinces in the 30th year of Guangxu (AD 1904), Fengtian province decided to cease the minting of these coins due to cost considerations. “Valued at ten coins” refers to the traditional Chinese denomination system, where one coin could be exchanged for ten “Xiao Ping Money.” “Weighing 2 Mace 4 Candareens” harks back to the tradition, before the Republic of China era, of using weight as a measure for the coin’s denomination.

In the 26th year of Guangxu (AD 1900), as Fengtian Province was trialing this copper coin and awaiting approval from Beijing, it unfortunately encountered the turmoil of the Eight-Nation Alliance’s intervention. Not only was Beijing unable to respond due to the crisis, but Fengtian Province also faced the invasion of Northern forces by Russia. The Fengtian Arsenal, responsible for the minting of the copper coins, was occupied by Russia until April of the 29th year of Guangxu (AD 1903), when the factory was finally returned to the Chinese. Due to the loss of many machines, the Arsenal had to purchase new equipment from Shanghai and took the opportunity to refer to the coin designs of other provinces. It was decided to replace the more expensive pure copper with cheaper brass, and to abandon the traditional square-hole coin design for a Western-style coinage that included English legends. Thus, this “Guangxu Tongbao” coin never circulated, indicating its rarity.

物件編號: A331

年代: 公元 1900 年

材質: 銅

尺寸: 31.2 x 31.2 mm

製造地: 奉天機器局，奉天省

來源: 福君錢幣 2024

這是一枚光緒26年(公元1900年)，奉天機器局試鑄的「光緒通寶」銅幣。銅幣以機械鑄造，外觀保留中國傳統的方孔錢形制。銅幣正面寫有「光緒通寶」四字，背面則按照逆時針方向，依序寫上「奉天機器局造紫銅當十錢重二錢四分」字樣。從錢幣背面能辨識錢幣的鑄造地資訊外，更能知道其材質、幣值和重量等訊息。相較於摻有鋅的黃銅，以純銅打造的紫銅成本更為昂貴，這便是奉天省在光緒30年(公元1904年)參考其他省分後，出於成本考量放棄鑄造該銅幣的原因。「當十錢」則是中國傳統的幣值兌換，一枚得以兌換十枚「小平錢」。「重二錢四分」則是進入民國以前，以「計重」作為中國錢幣面額的傳統。

光緒26年(公元1900年)，奉天省試鑄該銅幣和交付北京待奏准之際，不幸面對八國聯軍的兵燹。不僅北京無暇回應，奉天省亦面對北方的俄國入侵。鑄造銅幣的奉天機器局也為俄國占領，直到光緒29年(公元1903年)4月，俄國方才將工廠歸還中方。由於機器多有遺失，機器局需要從上海重新購置機器並順道參考他省的銅元形制。一方面決定以便宜的黃銅取代紫銅，另一方面一改原先的方孔錢設計，將其改為西式的錢幣形制和追加英文銘文。故該枚「光緒通寶」未曾流通於市，可見其稀有程度。