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
Shandong ProvinceBureau
(Manchu Script Version 1)
清 康熙通寶
山東省局造
(滿文字體一版)
Item number: A354-4
Year: AD 1661-1662 / 1667-1670
Material: Brass
Size: 27.1 x 27.1 x 0.9 mm
Weight: 4.8 g
Manufactured by: Shandong Province Bureau
Provenance: Fuchin Coin 2024
This coin was a circulating currency known as “Kangxi Tongbao,” minted during the reign of the third emperor of the Qing Dynasty, Kangxi, spanning from AD 1661 to AD 1722. It was produced at the coin mint in Jinan, the capital of Shandong Province.
The coin is circular with a square hole in the center, primarily made of brass. The outer part of the coin forms two concentric circles, with the outer circle in a brass color, smooth and without any patterns. The inner circle on the obverse side, surrounding the square hole, features the inscription “Kangxi Tongbao” in regular script at the top, bottom, right, and left in sequence. The reverse side of the coin, centred around the square hole, features inscriptions on either side indicating the minting location. On the left side, the Manchu script “ᡩᠣᠩ” is inscribed, while on the right side, the Chinese character “Dong” is engraved.
Compared to another coin in the museum’s collection, this coin’s reverse side features Manchu script that is finer and has clearer strokes.
During the Kangxi era, in addition to the central mints “Bao Quan Bureau” and “Bao Yuan Bureau,” a total of 24 regional mints were established. In the Qing dynasty, the minting of coins in Shandong Province began in the 2nd year of the Shunzhi reign (AD 1645) with the establishment of the “Linqing Prefecture Bureau” in Linqing Prefecture, Shandong. Shortly thereafter, in the 6th year of Shunzhi (AD 1649), the “Shandong Province Bureau” was established in Jinan, the provincial capital of Shandong, and was abbreviated as the “Bao Dong Bureau.”
In the 18th year of the Shunzhi reign (AD 1661), after Kangxi ascended the throne, various regional mints, including the Bao Dong Bureau, received samples and began minting Kangxi Tongbao coins. However, in the following year, the 1st year of the Kangxi reign (AD 1662), a new policy retained only the Jiangning Bureau in Nanjing at the local level, temporarily closing all other regional mints. It was not until the 6th year of Kangxi (AD 1667) that the Bao Dong Bureau was granted approval by the Ministry of Revenue to resume operations. Nonetheless, in the 9th year of Kangxi (AD 1670), it received another order to cease operations, and no further Kangxi Tongbao coins were minted thereafter.