Item number: A1262

Year: AD 1875-1908

Material: Brass

Size: 22.0 x 22.0 x 2.0 mm

Weight: 5.4 g

Provenance: Da Chen Stamps and Coins Collection 2016

This is a charm coin minted during the Guangxu reign of the Qing Dynasty (AD 1875–1908). It was modelled after the circulating currency of the time, the Guangxu Tongbao. Unlike the standard Guangxu Tongbao, this huaqian, inscribed with the auspicious phrase “Ding, Wealth, Honour, and Longevity” (丁財貴壽), features a noticeably thicker and more robust design.

The coin is in the traditional square-holed format. Its obverse is indistinguishable in appearance from officially minted coins, featuring four Chinese characters, “光緒通寶” (Guangxu Tongbao), arranged in clockwise order: top, bottom, right, and left. The reverse side also follows the same arrangement, bearing the auspicious phrase “丁財貴壽” (Ding, Wealth, Honour, and Longevity).

Each character conveys a specific blessing: Ding (丁): Represents the prosperity of family lineage; Wealth (財): Symbolises material abundance; Honour (貴): Reflects aspirations for noble status or social prestige; Longevity (壽): Expresses wishes for a long and healthy life.

Yasheng coins, also known as “Yansheng coins” or “flower coins,” were not formal currency. Initially, they were primarily used for prayers for good fortune and to ward off evil spirits. Over time, their usage became more widespread. These coins were minted from the Western Han Dynasty to the early Republic of China, with a particular abundance and variety during the Qing Dynasty.

物件編號: A1262

年代: 公元 1875-1908 年

材質: 黃銅

尺寸: 22.0 x 22.0 x 2.0 mm

重量: 5.4 g

來源: 大城郵幣社 2016

這是一枚清朝光緒年間 (公元 1875至1908年)，模仿當時的流通貨幣「光緒通寶」所鑄造的「丁財貴壽」花錢。這枚花錢的厚度相較流通的光緒通寶，厚度較為厚實肥大。

錢幣形制為方孔錢，正面和官方鑄造的外觀無異，按照上、下、右、左順序，依序有四個漢字「光緒通寶」。錢幣背面也是按相同的順序，鐫刻「丁財貴壽」吉祥祝福語。「丁」代表家庭的人丁旺盛，「財」則是象徵財富，「貴」是期許有尊貴的社會地位，「壽」則是期待收到的人能長命百歲。

壓勝錢又稱厭勝錢、花錢，非正式流通的貨幣，最初主要用於祈吉、驅邪，而後使用範圍越趨廣泛。從西漢至民初均有鑄造，尤以清代為盛，種類繁多。