Qing Dynasty
Shunzhi Tongbao Type 5
Shaanxi Province Bureau
(Privately Minted Version)
清
順治通寶五式
陝西省局造
(私鑄版)
Item number: A978
Year: AD 1660-1661
Material: Brass
Size: 21.9 x 21.9 x 0.5 mm
Weight: 1.6 g
Manufactured by: Shaanxi Province Bureau
Provenance:
1. Noonans 2022
2. D. L. F. Sealy Collection
This is a “Shunzhi Tongbao” coin minted during the reign of Shunzhi, the first emperor of the Qing Dynasty after entering China proper. The coin was produced in Xi’an, the capital of Shaanxi Province. This coin has a typical square hole design and is made of brass. This coin weighs only 1.6 g, and its inscriptions appear rather hasty and crude, suggesting that it was likely privately minted rather than produced by an official mint.
On the obverse, the characters “Shunzhi Tongbao” are inscribed in the order of top, bottom, right, and left. The reverse features Manchu script “ᠰᠠᠠᠨ” (Shan) on the left side and the Chinese character “Shan” on the right, indicating the minting location. Based on the reverse design, this coin is classified as the fifth type.
In the first year of Shunzhi’s reign (AD 1644), the Qing court continued the Ming Dynasty’s system and maintained three mints in Shaanxi Province, including the Shaanxi Provincial Bureau. Located in Xi’an, this Bureau served as the primary coin production unit for the region. It remained in operation until it was officially abolished in the 31st year of Emperor Guangxu’s reign (AD 1905).
During the 18-year reign of Emperor Shunzhi, the “Shunzhi Tongbao” coins were categorised into five major types based on the patterns on the reverse side:
| Type | Period | Feature |
| Type 1 | Shunzhi 1st-2nd (AD 1644-1645) | No inscription on the reverse side. |
| Type 2 | Shunzhi 2nd-8th (AD 1645-1651) | Single Chinese character indicating the casting unit on the reverse side. |
| Type 3 | Shunzhi 10th-14th (AD 1653-1657) | The reverse side of the coin features two sets of Chinese characters. The character on the left, “厘” (Cash), represents the coin’s value in relation to silver, while the character on the right indicates the minting authority responsible for producing the coin. |
| Type 4 | Shunzhi 14th-18th (AD 1657-1661) | Minted by the central Ministry of Revenue and Ministry of Works, these coins are of higher quality, with Manchu script inscribed on both the left and right sides of the reverse. |
| Type 5 | Shunzhi 17th-18th (AD 1660-1661) | Coins minted by various regional mints feature Manchu script on the left side of the reverse and Chinese characters on the right side to indicate the minting authority. |
物件編號: A978
年代: 公元 1660-1661 年
材質: 黃銅
尺寸: 21.9 x 21.9 x 0.5 mm
重量: 1.6 g
製造地: 陝西省局
來源:
1. 諾南斯 2022
2. 大衛.萊斯利.福布斯.西利舊藏
這是清朝入關的首任皇帝順治所鑄造的「順治通寶」，鑄造地點為陝西省省會西安。這枚錢幣形制為典型的方孔錢，材質為黃銅。錢幣正面按上、下、右、左順序，依序鐫刻漢字「順治通寶」四字。錢幣背後左右兩側，依序以滿文「ᠰᠠᠠᠨ」(陝)和漢文「陝」標示鑄造地點。且從錢幣背面風格來判斷，能知道這枚錢幣為第五式。這枚錢幣重量僅有1.6克，且銘文較為潦草，故能推測為民間所鑄造。
順治元年(公元1644年)，清廷沿襲明朝的舊制，於陝西省持續使用陝西省局在內的三個鑄幣局。位於西安的陝西省局為主要鑄造單位，直到光緒31年(公元1905年)方才遭到裁撤。
順治皇帝統治的18年間，其鑄造的順治通寶按照背面版式，總計有五大種類：
| 版型 | 時間 | 特色 |
| 第一式 | 順治元年至2年 (公元1644至1645年) | 背面沒有任何銘文 |
| 第二式 | 順治2年至8年 (公元1645至1651年) | 背面為單一個漢字，標示鑄造單位 |
| 第三式 | 順治10年至14年 (公元1653至1657年) | 背面為兩組漢字，左側「厘」為錢幣得折算的白銀，右側則為鑄造單位 |
| 第四式 | 順治14年至18年 (公元1657至1661年) | 中央的戶部和工部鑄造，較為精美，背面的左右兩側皆為滿文 |
| 第五式 | 順治17年至18年 (公元1660至1661年) | 各地鑄錢局鑄造，背面的左側以滿文，右側則以漢文標示鑄造單位 |
