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
Kangxi Tongbao
Shaanxi Province Bureau
清
康熙通寶
陝西省局造
Item number: A1010
Year: AD 1667-1670
Material: Brass
Size: 26.7 x 26.7 x 0.8 mm
Weight: 3.7 g
Manufactured by: Shaanxi Province Bureau
Provenance:
1. Noonans 2022
2. D. L. F. Sealy Collection
This coin is a circulating currency piece from the reign of the third Qing Emperor, Kangxi (AD 1661-AD 1722), minted in Xi’an, the capital of Shaanxi Province. It bears the inscription “Kangxi Tongbao.”
The coin has a typical square-holed design and is made of brass. The coin is entirely covered in a black patina, causing the inscriptions on both the obverse and reverse sides to appear somewhat blurred. The obverse side is inscribed with the four Chinese characters “Kangxi Tongbao” in the order of top, bottom, right, and left. On the reverse side, the left and right sides are marked with the Manchu script “ᠰᠠᠠᠨ” and the Chinese character “Shan.”
During the Kangxi period, in addition to the centrally administered mints of the “Bao Quan Bureau” and the “Bao Yuan Bureau,” 24 regional mints were established across various provinces.
The Shaanxi Province Bureau began producing Kangxi Tongbao coins in the 6th year of Kangxi’s reign (AD 1667) following central government orders, but minting ceased in the 9th year of Kangxi’s reign (AD 1670). The Shaanxi Bureau had been established in the 1st year of the Shunzhi reign (AD 1644) and remained in operation until it was finally abolished in the 31st year of the Guangxu reign (AD 1905).