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,
Guangxu Yuanbao,
10 Cash, Zhejiang Province
(Six-Petal Flower Version)
清 光緒元寶
當十 浙江省造
(六瓣花版)
Item number: A389-2
Year: AD 1903-1906
Material: Copper
Size: 28.1 x 28.1 x 1.8 mm
Weight: 8.1 g
Manufactured by: Zhejiang Copper Coin General Bureau, Hangzhou
Provenance:
1. Noonans 2022
2. D. L. F. Sealy Collection
This is a Guangxu Yuanbao copper coin with a denomination of “Ten Cash,” machine-minted in Zhejiang Province in the 29th year of the Guangxu era (AD 1903).
The obverse of the coin features a five-clawed dragon leaping from the water, with a central dragon pearl emerging from its mouth. The reverse side has a bead circle, within which are the four Chinese characters “Guangxu Yuanbao” in regular script, and a six-petalled floral motif in the centre.Based on this central decoration, Zhejiang-minted Guangxu Yuanbao coins are categorised into two versions: the “Six-petalled Flower” and the “Dragon Pearl.”
On the outer circle, the left and right sides are inscribed with the Manchu script “Bao Zhe” from left to right. The upper edge of the coin bears the inscription “Minted by Zhejiang Province,” while the lower edge denotes the denomination “Ten Cash.”
In the 27th year of the Guangxu reign (AD 1902), encouraged by Guangdong’s successful experience, the Qing court issued an edict promoting and permitting various provinces to mint Western-style copper coins. By the 29th year of the Guangxu reign (AD 1903), Zhejiang Province commenced the minting of copper coins within the military arsenal factory in Hangzhou. This operation later expanded into the “Zhejiang Copper Coin General Bureau,” which took charge of these activities. Over time, the bureau minted approximately 800 million ten-cash copper coins.
However, in the 32nd year of the Guangxu reign (AD 1906), due to the oversupply of machine-minted copper coins from various provinces, their value depreciated. To control the economy and reclaim the right to mint currency from local authorities, the Qing court ordered all provinces to cease the minting of copper coins. Consequently, the Zhejiang Copper Coin Bureau had to suspend its operations, and its responsibilities were transferred to the “Min-Zhe Copper Coin Branch” in Fuzhou, Fujian.