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
Xuanfu Town Bureau
清
康熙通寶
宣府鎮局造
Item number: A1081
Year: AD 1661-1722
Material: Brass
Size: 14.9 x 15.0 x 0.9 mm
Weight: 4.55 g
Manufactured by: Xuanfu Town 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 1661-1722), minted in Xuanfu Town, a military stronghold in Zhili Province. It bears the inscription “Kangxi Tongbao.”
The coin has the typical square-holed design and is made of brass. The lower half of the coin’s obverse and the entire reverse side are covered with a black patina. 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 “ᡧᡠᠠᠨ” and the Chinese character “Xuan.”
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.
Xuanfu Town is located next to the Great Wall and has been an important military stronghold for defending the capital, Beijing, since the Ming Dynasty. Consequently, a minting bureau was established in the area to meet the demands for military salaries. After the Qing court entered China, the Xuanfu Town Bureau continued to produce coins until it was closed in the 61st year of Kangxi’s reign (AD 1722), marking the end of its historical significance.