Item number: A1394

Year: AD 1905-1912

Material: Silver

Size: 13 x 11.5 mm

Manufactured by: Khotan, Xinjiang

Provenance: Fuchin Coin 2024

This coin, minted in AD 1878 (Guangxu 4th year) in Khotan (modern-day Hotan), located in southern Xinjiang, is a silver coin with a denomination of five fen. The obverse displays the denomination “五分” (Five Fen) in Chinese on the top and bottom, while the left and right sides are inscribed with the Arabic “خو تن” (Khotan), also meaning “Five Fen.” The reverse features a square at the centre surrounded by four Chinese characters arranged from top to bottom and left to right, reading “光緒銀錢” (Guangxu Silver Coin).

This design signifies the integration of local cultural elements, including the use of Arabic for the Muslim population, and represents the Qing Empire’s efforts to assert sovereignty and economic control over the region following its reconquest during the Guangxu Emperor’s reign. The coin reflects the strategic importance of Khotan as an economic and cultural hub within the Qing administrative framework for southern Xinjiang.

In AD 1878, the Qing dynasty launched a campaign to reconquer Xinjiang under the command of General Zuo Zongtang. This military effort was driven by the Qing government’s need to address a critical border crisis that emerged following a period of internal strife and external aggression. Since being annexed by the Qing during Emperor Qianlong’s reign, Xinjiang had served as a crucial frontier region. However, the mid-19th century saw a weakening of Qing control over the region due to internal uprisings, such as the Taiping Rebellion, and the pressure exerted by foreign powers. The situation worsened in the 1860s, when Alikhan Tura, a general of the Khanate of Kokand, exploited the instability to establish a separatist regime in southern Xinjiang, backed by foreign forces. This not only challenged Qing sovereignty in the northwest but also disrupted the economic stability along the Silk Road.The recapture of Xinjiang and its subsequent reintegration into the Qing Empire not only stabilised the border region but also strengthened centralised control over distant territories. This, in turn, had a lasting impact on the territorial integrity and development of modern China.

Economically, following the reconquest, the Qing government implemented a series of monetary reforms to restore local economic activities. The standardisation of the silver-based currency system was a key aspect of these efforts. Regional mints, including the one in Khotan, played an important role by producing local coinage such as the Guangxu silver coins. These coins, which circulated widely, facilitated trade and economic integration, while also symbolising Qing sovereignty over Xinjiang.Through these measures, the Qing dynasty not only revived economic life in Xinjiang but also reinforced its presence in this strategically vital region.

物件編號: A1394

年代: 公元 1905-1912 年

材質: 銀

尺寸: 13 x 11.5 mm

製造地: 新疆于闐

來源: 福君錢幣 2024

本枚為光緒4年(公元1787)於于闐(為現今和田)所發行的銀幣，面額為五分。正面上下兩側為中文的「五分」，左右兩側則為阿拉伯文「خوتن」也為「五分」的意涵，表示銀幣的面額。背面中間為正方形，周圍是四個中文字，閱讀從上到下、從左到右分別為「光緒銀錢」。

光緒四年（公元1878年），清朝在左宗棠的指揮下發起了對新疆的收復戰爭，這場戰役的背景是清廷在經歷內憂外患後面臨邊疆危機的局面。新疆自乾隆年間被納入清朝版圖後，一直作為重要的邊疆屏障。然而，19世紀中葉，清廷因太平天國運動和列強壓迫導致國力衰弱，邊疆統治力下降。1860年代，浩罕汗國將領阿古柏乘亂建立割據政權，控制了新疆大部分地區，並聯合外國勢力對抗清朝。此舉不僅威脅了清朝對西北邊疆的控制，也打擊了絲路沿線的經濟穩定。清朝收復新疆及其後續治理，不僅穩定了邊疆局勢，也加強了中央對邊遠地區的控制，對近代中國的領土完整與邊疆發展產生了深遠影響。

在經濟方面，清廷在新疆重建秩序的同時，推行了一系列貨幣改革，試圖恢復當地經濟活動。以銀兩為主體的貨幣系統開始在新疆流通，部分地區還鑄造地方特色銀幣，如光緒銀幣。其中，于闐（今和田）作為南疆的經濟重鎮之一，也參與了銀幣的鑄造與流通。這些地方銀幣不僅促進了貿易與經濟整合，也成為清廷對新疆地區主權的象徵。