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
Linqing Town Bureau
(Flower Coin Version)
清
康熙通寶
臨清鎮局造
(花錢版)
Item number: A340
Year: AD 1661-1662 / 1667-1673
Material: Brass
Size: 27.3 x 27.3 x 0.9 mm
Weight: 4.5 g
Manufactured by: Linqing Town Bureau
Provenance: Fuchin Coin 2024
This is a “Kangxi Tongbao,” a circulating coin minted during the reign of the Qing Dynasty’s third emperor, Kangxi (AD 1661-AD 1722), at the Linqing Town Bureau in Shandong Province.This coin has been artistically enhanced with carved decorations around the outer edge on both sides, transforming it into a “flower coin.”
The coin is circular with a square hole in the center, primarily made of brass. The coin features a design of concentric circles, with the outer circle displaying a brass colour and the inner circle, which contains the inscriptions, exhibiting a blackish-brown hue. The outer circle is intricately decorated with three repeating motifs of a three-petalled flower, fruit, and leaves, showcasing fine carving craftsmanship.
The inner circle, centred around a square hole, has the four characters “Kangxi Tongbao” inscribed in regular script, positioned respectively at the top, bottom, right, and left.
The reverse side of the coin features an outer circle adorned with two sets of radiating lines and elegant floral patterns. The inner circle, centred around a square hole, has the mint location inscribed on the left and right sides. The Manchu script “ᠯᠯᡳᠨ” is inscribed on the left, while the Chinese character “Lin” is engraved on the right, indicating the coin’s minting location.
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 Shandong Province began in the 2nd year of the Shunzhi reign (AD 1645) with the establishment of the “Linqing Town Bureau” in Linqing Town, Shandong. Shortly thereafter, in the 6th year of Shunzhi (AD 1649), the “Shandong Province Bureau” was established in Jinan, the provincial capital of Shandong, and was abbreviated as the “Bao Dong Bureau.”
In the 18th year of the Shunzhi reign (AD 1661), after Kangxi ascended the throne, various regional mints, including the Bao Lin Bureau, received samples and began minting Kangxi Tongbao coins. However, in the following year, the 1st year of the Kangxi reign (1662 AD), 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 Bao Lin Bureau was granted approval by the Ministry of Revenue to resume operations. In the 12th year of the Kangxi reign (AD 1673), the Bao Lin Bureau received another order to cease minting operations, and there are no records of it resuming thereafter.
In the 14th year of Kangxi (AD 1675), the operations of the Bao Lin Bureau were entirely transferred to the Baodong Bureau, marking the end of the Bao Lin Bureau’s history.