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
Henan Province Bureau
(Privately Minted Version)
清
康熙通寶
河南省局造
(私鑄版)
Item number: A354-9
Year: AD 1661-1662 / 1667-1670
Material: Brass
Size: 26.0 x 26.0 x 0.5 mm
Weight: 2.6 g
Manufactured by: Henan 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 Kaifeng, the capital of Henan 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. On the reverse side, also centered around the square hole, both the left and right sides bear inscriptions in Manchu and Chinese characters, indicating the minting location as the abbreviated form “He” for Henan.
This coin weighs only 2.6 g, suggesting that it may have been privately minted by civilians. The Manchu inscription “ᡭᡠ” on the reverse bears a resemblance to another piece in this collection, but the upper curve is more pronounced. Additionally, the character “通” on the obverse features an inverted triangle shape at the top.
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. The “Henan Province Bureau,” located in Kaifeng and abbreviated as the “Bao He Bureau,” was established at the beginning of the reign of the previous emperor, Shunzhi.
In the 18th year of the Shunzhi reign (AD 1661), after Kangxi ascended the throne, various regional mints, including the Bao He Bureau, received samples and began minting Kangxi Tongbao coins. However, in the following year, the 1st year of the Kangxi reign (AD 1662), a new policy retained only the Jiangning Bureau in Nanjing at the local level, temporarily closing all other regional mints. It was not until the 6th year of Kangxi (AD 1667) that the Baohe Bureau was granted approval by the Ministry of Revenue to resume operations. Nonetheless, in the 9th year of Kangxi (AD 1670), it received another order to cease operations, and no further Kangxi Tongbao coins were minted thereafter.