Item number: A653

Year: AD 1905-1912

Material: Brass

Size: 23.7

Weight: 2.65 g

Manufactured by: Bao Chang Bureau

Provenance:

1. Noonans 2022

2. D. L. F. Sealy Collection

This is a Qianlong Tongbao coin issued by the Bao Chang Mint, established in Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, during the reign of Qianlong, the sixth emperor of the Qing Dynasty (AD 1735–AD1796). The coin features a square hole in the centre.

The outer rims of both the obverse and reverse sides of the coin are heavily worn. The inner rim of the obverse is engraved with the Chinese characters “乾隆通寶” (Qianlong Tongbao), while the inner rim of the reverse features the Manchu script “ᠪᠣᡠ ᠴᠠᠩ” (Bao Chang).

In the Qing Dynasty, most coins did not explicitly indicate their denominations but were distinguished by size and weight. The typical cash had a diameter ranging from 24.2 to 28.0 mm and weighed between 3.8 and 4.2 g. This Qianlong Tongbao coin, however, has a diameter of 23.1 mm and weighs only 2.1 g. Furthermore, the script on the coin, whether in Manchu or Chinese, displays a loose structure and distorted proportions, indicating that it does not adhere to the official production style. Given the significant prevalence of private minting during the Qianlong period, it is speculated that this coin may be a privately minted piece.

The Bao Chang Mint was established in the 7th year of the Yongzheng reign (AD 1729), but operations ceased in the 11th year of Yongzheng (AD 1733) due to issues such as shortages of raw materials and labour. In the 2nd year of the Qianlong reign (AD 1737), minting resumed as a routine measure. Although operations were intermittently halted and restarted, this practice served as one of the means to control market currency inflation.

物件編號: A653

年代: 公元 1905-1912 年

材質: 黃銅

尺寸: 23.7 x 23.7 x 0.8 mm

重量: 2.65 g

製造地: 寶昌局

來源:

1. 諾南斯 2022

2. 大衛.萊斯利.福布斯.西利舊藏

這是清朝第六任皇帝乾隆在位期間(公元1735至1796年)，於江西省南昌所設立「寶昌局」發行之「乾隆通寶」，其外觀為方孔錢。

錢幣正反面的外廓磨損皆十分嚴重。正面的內廓鐫刻漢字「乾隆通寶」；背面的內廓則鐫刻滿文「ᠪᠣᡠ ᠴᠠᠩ」（寶昌）二字。

清代的錢幣大多不會特別標示面額，僅用大小與重量作為區別，一般的小平錢大小為24.2 ~ 28.0 mm、重量為3.8 ~ 4.2 g，而此枚乾隆通寶的尺寸為23.7 mm，重量僅有2.65 g。此外，印幣的字體不論是滿文或漢文皆結構鬆散，比例扭曲，非官方所生產的樣式。由於乾隆時期私鑄幣現象十分嚴重，因此推測可能為私鑄幣。

寶昌局始於雍正7年(公元1729年)，不過到雍正11年(西元1733年)因為原物料、缺工等問題又停鑄。乾隆2年(公元1737年)又依照慣例開始鑄錢，雖然中間時鑄時停，不過這作為控制市場貨幣通貨膨脹的手段之一。