Item number: A609

Year: AD 1857

Material: Brass

Size: 26.4 x 26.2 x 1.2 mm

Weight: 5.85 g

Provenance:

1. Noonans 2022

2. D. L. F. Sealy Collection

This is a coin from the late Qing Dynasty’s Dachen Kingdom, established by Li Wenmao. The background of this period was marked by peasant dissatisfaction with the Qing government, and the Dachen Kingdom was a rebel regime set up in the Guangzhou area.

In AD 1855, Li Wenmao, in collaboration with the secret society known as the Triad, successfully captured Xunzhou and established the Dachen Kingdom, proclaiming himself the Pingjing King. In AD 1857, Li Wenmao captured Liuzhou in Guangxi, established the Pingjing Royal Palace, and minted the “Pingjing Shengbao” coin. However, the good times did not last. In AD 1858, Li Wenmao was severely wounded in fierce battles with the Qing government and soon passed away. The Dachen Kingdom he established was subsequently eradicated by the Qing government in AD 1861.

The “Pingjing Shengbao” coin has some damage and corrosion on its obverse, yet the inscriptions remain visible. “Pingjing Shengbao” The four characters are read from top to bottom and right to left. The reverse side of the coin features the names of various military units of the time, including “Front Camp,” “Rear Camp,” “Right Camp,” “Central Camp,” “Imperial Forest Army,” and “Ever-Victorious Army,” in seven different inscriptions.

The coin is mistakenly believed to have been minted by Hong Xiuquan of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom. In fact, this is incorrect. The Taiping Kingdom typically used the character “聖” (Saint) on their coins rather than “勝” (Victory) and did not have military units named “Imperial Forest Army” or “Ever-Victorious Army.” The character “勝” was specifically used by the various branches of the Tiandihui (Heaven and Earth Society) for naming purposes, and since the coin features the inscription “Pingjing,” it is clear that it was minted by Li Wenmao.

The “Pingjing Shengbao” coin is unique in Chinese history as the only coin directly named after a series of military units, making it highly distinctive and of great collectible value.

物件編號: A609

年代: 公元 1857 年

材質: 黃銅

尺寸: 26.4 x 26.2 x 1.2 mm

重量: 5.85 g

來源:

1. 諾南斯 2022

2. 大衛.萊斯利.福布斯.西利舊藏

這是一枚出自清末大成國的錢幣。大成國由李文茂所建立。當時背景為清末農民不滿清政府，而大成國即是在廣州一帶建立起的反抗政權。

公元1855年，李文茂協同當時祕密結社的組織—三合會，共同攻克了潯洲並自立大成國，自號平靖王。公元1857年，李文茂攻佔廣西柳州，建靖王府，自鑄「平靖勝寶」錢幣。然而好景不長，公元1858年，李文茂在與清政府的激烈戰鬥中不幸重傷，不久便逝世，而他建立的大成國，也在公元1861年被清政府剿滅。

該枚硬幣正面尚有殘缺、繡蝕，然其字跡依舊可見，「平靖勝寶」，四字由上至下、由右至左讀；背面則按當時各軍的建制名鑄造，該枚背面可清晰見其「左營」二字，除此之外，亦有「前營」、「後營」、「右營」、「中營」及「御林軍」、「長勝軍」七種文字。

該枚硬幣傳聞是太平天國的洪秀全鑄造，其實是錯誤的。天國慣例常在硬幣背面使用「聖」，而不用「勝」；更無「御林軍」、「長勝軍」之建制。而「勝」為天地會各系山堂命名專用字，且硬幣正面有「平靖」字樣，故可知為李文茂鑄造。

平靖勝寶的特色，是中國歷史上唯一直接冠以軍隊系列建制的錢幣，甚為獨特，極富收藏價值。