Item number: A531

Year: AD 1875-1908

Material: Brass

Size: 31.8 x 31.6 x 1.5 mm

Weight: 9.0 g

Manufactured by: Bao Quan Bureau

Provenance:

1. Noonans 2022

2. D. L. F. Sealy Collection

This coin, minted by the Central Bao Quan Bureau, is a “Guangxu Chungbao” with a denomination of “Ten Wen” (equivalent to 10 cash). The coin was produced using the traditional method of casting.

The coin is a square-holed cash coin, adhering to the traditional Chinese concept of “round heaven and square earth.” The obverse features a central square hole with the four characters “Guangxu Chungbao” inscribed in regular script around it. The reverse side also has a central square hole, with Manchu characters “Bao Quan” on either side, indicating its production by the Bao Quan Bureau. Both the obverse and reverse sides of the coin show noticeable scratches along the edges.

The Bao Quan Bureau was a minting institution during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Initially established as a local minting institution in the early Ming dynasty, it later became a central minting institution under the Ministry of Revenue during the late Ming and early Qing periods. Its status gradually surpassed that of the Bao Yuan Bureau, which was under the Ministry of Works.

During the reign of Emperor Yongzheng, several reforms were undertaken to strengthen the country’s finances, specifically targeting the Bao Quan Bureau. For example, 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.

In the period of Guangxu, influenced by modern minting techniques, China gradually began mechanised coin production to meet the substantial market demand across the country. However, as the Qing Dynasty’s central mint, the Bao Quan Bureau faced challenges in implementing large-scale standardised coin production, coupled with significant financial losses, leading to its eventual closure.

Nonetheless, due to the continued dominance of traditional coins in circulation, the Bao Quan Bureau was not immediately abolished. Instead, a phased approach was adopted to mitigate the currency demand during the transition period. It was not until the second year of the Xuantong reign (AD 1910) that the Bao Quan Bureau fully withdrew from its centuries-long minting responsibilities.

物件編號: A531

年代: 公元 1875-1908 年

材料: 黃銅

尺寸: 31.8 x 31.6 x 1.5 mm

重量: 9.0 g

製造地: 寶泉局

來源:

1. 諾南斯 2022

2. 大衛.萊斯利.福布斯.西利舊藏

這枚錢幣是由中央寶泉局所鑄造的「光緒重寶」，面額為「當十」(即十文)。鑄幣方法為傳統的磨製法。

這枚錢幣是一方孔錢錢幣，整體形制符合傳統天圓地方的觀念。該錢幣正面的中央有一方孔，幣面四周有楷書「光緒重寶」四字對讀。錢幣反面的中央亦有一方孔，幣面兩側則有滿文「寶泉」字樣，表示為「寶泉局」所製。錢幣正反面的外圍皆有明顯的擦痕。

寶泉局是明清兩代的鑄幣機構，明初原先為地方鑄幣機構，後來在明末清初時，成為隸屬戶部的中央造幣機構，且其地位逐步高於工部的寶源局。到了雍正年間，為強化國家的財政，又針對寶泉局進行過多次改革。例如，為了強化中央集權和減少虧空，必須有充足的資金作為改革的後盾。因此雍正4年(公元1726年)，大幅增加寶泉局的鑄造能量，從一間工坊提升為四間，並且將火爐分散降低火災造成的損害。