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 Tongbao
Bao Quan Bureau
(Small coin &Privately Minted Version)
清 光緒通寶
寶泉局造
(私鑄版小錢)
Item number: A538
Year: AD 1875-1908
Material: Brass
Size: 18.1 x 17.9 x 0.4 mm
Weight: 1.05 g
Manufactured by: Bao Quan Bureau
Provenance:
1. Noonans 2022
2. D. L. F. Sealy Collection
This coin is suspected to be a “Guangxu Tongbao,” but its characteristics differ significantly from those of other Guangxu Tongbao coins, making it a lightweight and smaller variant. The coin was produced using traditional casting methods.
It is a square-holed coin, adhering to the traditional Chinese concept of “round heaven and square earth.” The obverse side of the coin features a square hole in the centre, with the four characters “Guangxu Tongbao” faintly visible around it. The reverse side also has a central square hole, with what appears to be the Manchu characters “Bao Quan,” indicating that it was produced by the Bao Quan Bureau. Both sides of the coin exhibit severe damage.
Despite the presence of the Bao Quan Bureau mark on the reverse side, the overall condition of the coin raises the possibility of it being counterfeit. Officially minted coins would adhere to specific standards, including a certain proportion of copper in the coin, consistent quality, and precise casting techniques. Official coins typically have clear inscriptions and uniform weight. However, the inscriptions on this coin are quite blurred, and its weight deviates significantly from standard coins, suggesting that it might be a counterfeit.
Historically, private minting has been a persistent issue in China across various periods. Archaeological evidence has shown that even during the Warring States period, some states were producing counterfeit coins of other states. Despite the unification of currency during the Qin dynasty, private minting remained unresolved.
The Qing dynasty was no exception. Not only was private minting prevalent among the populace, but even official mints sometimes engaged in malpractices. For instance, in the 30th year of the Daoguang reign (AD 1839), an imperial censor named Jueluo Longqing exposed the substandard quality of official coinage, noting that the coins were “too thin and fragile, often breaking easily, with unclear Chinese and Manchu characters.” These issues reflected the widespread counterfeiting problem.
During the Guangxu reign, private minting became even more rampant. Both the central Bao Quan and Bao Yuan Bureaus were involved in illegal practises, and privately minted coins became increasingly common nationwide. It was reported that out of every hundred small coins in circulation, seventy to eighty were privately minted. Even military pay distributed by the central government often included counterfeits.
Despite the Qing government’s efforts to combat this issue through harsh penalties and the recall of privately minted coins, they were unable to kerb the widespread circulation of counterfeit currency. Persistently high inflation, systemic governmental flaws, and the prevalence of opportunists in society all contributed to the proliferation of privately minted coins. This particular coin is likely one of the many privately minted coins that emerged under these historical conditions.