Item number: A1263

Year: AD 1735-1796

Material: Brass

Size: 48.7 x 25.3 x 1.0 mm

Weight: 7.8 g

Provenance: Da Chen Stamps and Coins Collection 2016

This is a highly unusual conjoined charm, crafted by the populace to imitate two coins. Each coin is joined with its obverse and reverse sides inverted, together forming a single piece inscribed with the characters “乾隆通寶” (Qianlong Tongbao).

The obverse sides of the two charm coins are identical in appearance to the officially minted versions, featuring the four Chinese characters “乾隆通寶” (Qianlong Tongbao) arranged in a clockwise order: top, bottom, right, and left.

On the reverse sides, however, they deviate from the official design. While retaining the Manchu script “ᠪᠣᡠ” (Bao, meaning “treasure”) on the left, the right-hand Chinese character has been replaced with auspicious symbols. These include “福” (Fu, symbolising lucky) on one coin and “壽” (Shou, representing longevity) on the other.

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: A1263

年代: 公元 1735-1796 年

材質: 黃銅

尺寸: 48.7 x 25.3 x 1.0 mm

重量: 7.8 g

來源: 大城郵幣社 2016

這是一個外觀十分奇特，由民間仿冒的兩枚錢幣各自以正反面顛倒相連，共同組成的乾隆通寶連體花錢。

兩枚花錢的正面和官方鑄造的版本無異，按照上、下、右、左的順序，依序有四個漢字「乾隆通寶」。錢幣背面跟官方版本相比，僅保留左側的滿文「ᠪᠣᡠ」(寶)，右側的漢字則是花錢想要表現的祝福，分別是象徵福氣的「福」和長壽的「壽」字。

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。