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
Xuantong Yuanbao,
7 Mace 2 Candareens,
Kwangtung Province
清 宣統元寶
庫平七錢二分
廣東省造
Item number: A1229
Year: AD 1909-1911
Material: Silver
Size: 38.5 x 38.5 mm
Manufactured by: Guangdong, Canton Mint
Provenance: Fuchin Coin 2024
This silver coin is a “Xuantong Yuanbao” minted by the “Canton Mint” in Guangdong Province during the reign of the last emperor of the Qing Dynasty, Xuantong (AD 1909-1911). The coin features teeth on both sides and has a serrated edge.
The obverse side of the coin features a front-facing dragon at the centre. The upper part of the circle is inscribed with the English inscription in the Wade-Giles system, “KWANG-TUNG PROVINCE.” The lower part indicates the coin’s value with the inscription “7 MACE AND 2 CANDAREENS,” and there is a four-petaled floral decoration on each side.
The reverse of the coin features a concentric circle with the Chinese inscription “Xuantong Yuanbao” in the center. The central inscription in Manchu script, “Xuantong Yuanbao,” remains clearly visible. The upper part of the circle is engraved with the minting location, “Made by Guangdong Province,” while the lower part indicates the coin’s denomination with the weight measurement of “Kuping 7 mace and 2 candareens.”
After the Opium Wars, the Qing Empire intensified its trade relations with the Western world. During this process, foreign silver with lower silver content flooded into China, leading to a significant outflow of Chinese Sycee silver with higher silver content.This exacerbated financial difficulties for the government and social unrest. In the 13th year of the Guangxu reign (AD 1887), Zhang Zhidong, the Governor-General of Guangdong and Guangxi, submitted a memorial to the imperial court, requesting the introduction of machinery from the British Birmingham mint to establish a mint in Guangdong for the production of silver coins.
After approval from the imperial court, in the 15th year of Guangxu’s reign (AD 1889), the “Canton Mint” was established in the eastern suburbs of Guangzhou. This marked the beginning of machine-struck currency production in China.