This is a “Guangxu Yuanbao” Western-style copper coin, minted in Jiangsu Province between the 27th and 32nd years of Guangxu’s reign (AD 1901-AD 1906), with a denomination of ten cash. Jiangsu, being one of the first provinces to mint Western-style copper coins, produced a variety of designs and numerous variants.
The coin is entirely a bright red colour, with a bead circle on the obverse side enclosing a five-clawed dragon spitting a fireball. The outer edges of the coin should feature crescent moon motifs as separators on both sides. The upper edge is inscribed with “KIANG-SOO” in Wade-Giles romanisation, while the lower edge displays the denomination “TEN CASH.” Unfortunately, due to the passage of time, the outer decorations and inscriptions have worn away, leaving the details indiscernible.
The reverse side of the coin also features a bead circle, inside which is the regular script Chinese characters “Guangxu Yuanbao” and a six-petalled flower pattern. The Guangxu Yuanbao coins typically feature a coiled dragon design on the obverse side, although a few variations depict a flying dragon motif. On the outer edges of both sides, the Manchu script “Bao Su” serves as the boundary. The upper edge is engraved with “Made in Kiang-Soo Province,” while the lower edge displays the denomination “Ten Cash.” However, extensive copper green oxidation covering a large area above the coin affects the legibility of the inscriptions.
In the 21st year of Guangxu (AD 1901), inspired by the successful implementation of Western-style copper coins in Guangdong and Fujian, Jiangsu Province initially minted copper coins through the Nanjing “Kiang-nan Mint Bureau Silver Dollar Bureau.” Subsequently, in the 30th year of Guangxu (AD 1904), the newly completed “Suzhou Copper Coin Bureau” also began minting copper coins. However, in the 26th year of Guangxu (AD 1906), due to the nationwide overproduction of copper coins leading to a decline in their value, the Ministry of Revenue started to reorganise the provincial mints.
Particularly in Jiangsu Province, where there were three factories: Kiang-nan, Suzhou, and Tsing-Kiang. According to the court’s regulations, Jiangsu’s daily production was not to exceed one million coins, but the reality was that Suzhou alone exceeded this quota. Consequently, the court promptly shut down the Suzhou Copper Coin Bureau, with its machinery and equipment being transferred to the Kiang-nan factory in Nanjing, thus ending its operations.
