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 Su Bureau
(Bold Manchu Script)
清 雍正通寶 寶蘇局造
(粗體滿文)
Item number: A658
Year: AD 1730-1735
Material: Brass
Size: 27.2 x 27.1 x 0.8 mm
Weight: 3.9 g
Manufactured by: Bao Su Bureau
Provenance:
1. Noonans 2022
2. D. L. F. Sealy Collection
This is the “Yongzheng Tongbao,” issued by the “Bao Su Bureau,” established in Jiangsu Province during the reign of Emperor Yongzheng, the fifth emperor of the Qing Dynasty (AD 1722- AD 1735). The coin features a square hole design.
The outer and inner contours, along with the central square hole on the obverse of the coin, show slight wear, but the reverse remains very clear. The inner contour on the obverse is inscribed with the four Chinese characters “Yongzheng Tongbao” (雍正通寶), while the reverse is engraved with the Manchu characters “ᠪᠣᡠ ᠰᡠ” (Bao Su). The Manchu script on this coin is bolder compared to another “Yongzheng Tongbao” from the Bao Su Bureau in the Legends Museum’s collection.
The “Bao Su Bureau” was established in the 7th year of the Kangxi reign (AD 1688) following an imperial edict after the creation of Jiangsu Province. It was overseen by Tong Pengnian (佟彭年), who was then serving as the Provincial Administration Commissioner of Jiangsu.
However, due to a shortage of copper in the region and the fact that transporting Tián copper (滇銅 copper from Yunan) took three years round trip, minting at the Bao Su Bureau was intermittent. Coin production resumed in the 8th year of the Yongzheng reign (AD 1730). During the Qianlong, Jiaqing, and Daoguang periods, the bureau’s operations were sporadic, halting completely when Tianjing(天京) fell during the Taiping Rebellion, after which minting resumed and continued until the end of the Guangxu era.