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
Kangxi Tongbao
Zhejiang ProvinceBureau
(Manchu Script Version 1)
清
康熙通寶
浙江省局造
(滿文字體一版)
Item number: A354-1
Year: AD 1668-1673 / 1696-1699
Material: Brass
Size: 26.7 x 26.7 x 0.7 mm
Weight: 3.45 g
Manufactured by: Zhejiang Province Bureau
Provenance: Fuchin Coin 2024
This coin was a circulating currency known as “Kangxi Tongbao,” minted during the reign of the third emperor of the Qing Dynasty, Kangxi, spanning from AD 1661 to AD 1722. It was produced at the coin mint in Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang Province.
The coin is circular with a square hole in the center, primarily made of brass. The outer part of the coin forms two concentric circles, with the outer circle in a brass color, smooth and without any patterns. The inner circle on the obverse side, surrounding the square hole, features the inscription “Kangxi Tongbao” in regular script at the top, bottom, right, and left in sequence. The reverse side also centres around the square hole, with the Manchu inscription “ᠵᡝ” on the left and the Chinese character “Zhe” on the right, indicating the place of minting.
During the Kangxi era, in addition to the central mints “Bao Quan Bureau” and “Bao Yuan Bureau,” a total of 24 regional mints were established. In the Qing dynasty, the minting of coins in Zhejiang Province commenced in the 6th year of the Shunzhi reign (AD 1649). Initially named the “Zhejiang Provincial Bureau,” it was later abbreviated to “Bao Zhe Bureau.” This mint was administered by the Zhejiang Provincial Chief Secretary and became one of the longest-standing and most prolific mints in terms of coin production during that period.
In the 7th year of the Kangxi reign (AD 1668), the Bao Zhe Bureau received coin specimens provided by the central government and commenced the minting of Kangxi Tongbao coins within that same year, producing them in considerable quantities. However, due to the court’s efforts to control the quantity of coins and the scarcity of copper mines in Zhejiang, the Bao Zhe Bureau experienced several interruptions in coin production during the Kangxi period. The bureau’s minting activities occurred during two main intervals: from the 7th to the 12th year of Kangxi (AD 1668 to AD 1673) and from the 35th to the 38th year of Kangxi (AD 1696 to AD 1699).