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,
Yongzheng Tongbao,
Bao Quan Bureau
清 雍正通寶 寶泉局造
Item number: A642-2
Year: AD 1722-1735
Material: Brass
Size: 26.9 x 26.9 x 1.1 mm
Weight: 5.3 g
Manufactured by: Bao Quan Bureau
Provenance:
1. Noonans 2022
2. D. L. F. Sealy Collection
This is a “Yongzheng Tongbao” coin issued by the Bao Quan Bureau, the central institution responsible for distributing military salaries during the reign of the fifth Qing Dynasty emperor, Yongzheng (AD 1722-AD 1735).
The coin’s outer and inner borders, as well as the central square hole, are well-defined. The obverse side features the four Chinese characters “Yongzheng Tongbao” inscribed in regular script within the inner border. On the reverse side, the inner border contains the Manchu script “ᠪᠣᡠ ᠴᡳᡠᠸᠠᠨ”(Boo Quwan), indicating the Bao Quan Bureau.
Since Emperor Shunzhi entered Beijing, the Baoquan Bureau, under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Revenue, has been the most important minting unit of the Qing Dynasty. In AD 1722, after the death of Emperor Kangxi, the Baoquan Bureau immediately began minting coins with the new emperor Yongzheng’s reign title. During his reign, Emperor Yongzheng implemented several reforms to strengthen the country’s finances, focusing particularly on the Bao Quan Bureau.
For instance, to centralise power and reduce deficits, Yongzheng needed ample funds to support his reforms. Thus, in the fourth year of Yongzheng’s reign (AD 1726), he significantly increased the minting capacity of the Bao Quan Bureau, expanding it from one workshop to four and dispersing the furnaces to minimise fire damage. During Kangxi’s reign, copper for minting coins was often imported from Japan, leading to frequent delays and high costs. In response, Yongzheng vigorously developed copper mines in Yunnan and Guizhou to reduce the cost of coin production.
Additionally, recognising that frequent changes in coin standards during Kangxi’s reign had caused market confusion, Yongzheng standardised the weight and material of the coins. He fixed the weight at 1 Mace 2 Candareens, thereby resolving the issue of differing weights causing difficulties in the circulation of goods.