Item number: A1112

Year: AD 1853-1861

Material: Brass

Size: 54.1 x 53.6 x 4.0 mm

Weight: 53.45 g

Manufactured by: Bao Quan Bureau

Provenance:

1. Noonans 2022

2. D. L. F. Sealy Collection

This is a “Xianfeng Chungbao” coin minted during the Xianfeng period by the Bao Quan Bureau, which was under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Revenue in the capital. The denomination of the coin is 50-cash. In the 3rd year of Xianfeng (AD 1853), the minting of large-denomination coins, including “Chungbao” and “Yuanbao,” began. During the production of Xianfeng Chungbao coins with a denomination of 50-cash, a total of 22 mints were involved in manufacturing, with materials including copper, iron, and lead.

The coin follows the typical square-holed design and has a notably heavy weight, giving it a solid and substantial feel. On the obverse, the four Chinese characters “Xianfeng Chungbao” are inscribed in the sequence of top, bottom, right, and left. The reverse side features the denomination “當五十” (50-cash) engraved on the top and bottom, while the left and right sides display the Manchu script “ᠪᠣᡠ ᠴᡳᠣᠸᠠᠨ” (Bao Quan), indicating the Bao Quan Bureau as the issuing authority. Due to its age, the inscriptions on both sides are somewhat worn and unclear.

The Xianfeng period was one of the most chaotic times for Qing dynasty coinage, primarily due to the rapid spread of the Taiping Rebellion, which created an urgent need for military funding to suppress the uprising. In response, Emperor Xianfeng accelerated the production of currency by issuing coins with large denominations and reopening or establishing new mints that had been long inactive. As a result, the number of mints during the Xianfeng era reached 28, producing coins with denominations ranging from smaller values of four cash to as high as one thousand cash. This rapid expansion, however, also led to severe inflation within the empire.

物件編號: A1112

年代: 公元 1853-1861 年

材質: 黃銅

尺寸: 54.1 x 53.6 x 4.0 mm

重量: 53.45 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

這是一枚咸豐年間，京師負責財政的戶部下轄之寶泉局鑄造的「咸豐重寶」，面額為五十文錢。咸豐3年(公元1853年)，開始鑄造大面額的重寶和元寶。當五十面額的咸豐重寶，總計有22間鑄錢局投入生產，材質則有銅、鐵和鉛三種。

錢幣形制為典型的方孔錢，重量十分厚實。錢幣正面按上、下、右、左的順序，依序鐫刻漢字「咸豐重寶」四字。錢幣背面的上下兩側鐫刻漢字面額「當五十」，左右兩側是標示鑄造單位的滿文「ᠪᠣᡠ ᠴᡳᠣᠸᠠᠨ」(寶泉)。由於年代久遠，正反兩面的文字都有些許模糊不清。

咸豐年間為清朝錢幣最為混亂的時期，主要原因是太平天國之亂的迅速蔓延，使得朝廷亟需軍費以平定叛亂。咸豐為加快籌錢的速度，一面鑄造大面額的錢幣，一面增設或恢復停工已久的鑄錢局，使得咸豐時期的鑄錢局達到28間，面額從較小的四文到一千文不等，卻也導致國內面臨嚴重的通貨膨脹。