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,
Guangxu Yuanbao,
10 Cash,Shandong Province
(Upper Version)
清 光緒元寶
十文山東省造
(上山東版)
Item number: A427
Year: AD 1904-1906
Material: Copper
Size: 27.8 x 27.8 x 1.6 mm
Weight: 7.5 g
Manufactured by: Jinan, Shandong Copper Coin Bureau
Provenance:
1. Noonans 2022
2. D. L. F. Sealy Collection
In July of the 30th year of the Guangxu reign (AD 1904), the ShandongCopper Coin Bureau in the provincial capital of Jinan, following the model from Guangdong, cast the “Guangxu Yuanbao” Western-style copper coin, with a denomination of Ten Cash.
The obverse of the coin features a beaded circle, within which lies a flying dragon like that found on the Guangdong provincial version. The dragon’s left forepaw grasps a dragon pearl. On either side of the outer rim, there is a five-petal flower as decoration, with the legend “SHANG-TUNG” on the top and the denomination “TEN CASH” at the bottom.
The reverse side of the coin also features a beaded circle, with the inner circle bearing the Chinese characters “Guangxu Yuanbao” and the Manchu script “Bao Dong.” On either side of the outer rim, there is a miniature five-petal flower. The inscription “Made in Shandong Province” is engraved at the top, while the denomination “Each coin equivalent to Ten Cash” is at the bottom. Depending on the position of the “Shandong” inscription, the coin can be classified into two types: “upper” and “horizontal.”
Additionally, the distinguishing feature of the “horizontal” version is the presence of the Manchu script “Guangxu Yuanbao” at the top. This item belongs to the “upper” version, which only features Chinese characters on the outer rim.
In the 28th year of the Guangxu reign (AD 1902), upon the request of the Governor of Shandong Province, Yuan Shikai, the imperial court approved the minting of copper coins in Shandong Province. However, at the time of the order’s issuance, Yuan Shikai had already been transferred from the position of Governor of Shandong, and the task was taken over by his successor, Zhou Fu. With the assistance of Zhou Xuexi, the son of Zhou Fu who served as the Director-General of the Peiyang Mint Bureau, they obtained the copper coin moulds provided by the Peiyang Mint Bureau. Consequently, the first batch of coins produced in Shandong only differed from those of the Peiyang Mint in terms of the place name.
In the 30th year of the Guangxu reign (AD 1904), in July, the Shandong Copper Coin Bureau in Jinan was officially completed. Initially, it used moulds from Guangdong to produce copper coins, but later, it also developed its own moulds. By the 32nd year of Guangxu (AD 1906), it was ordered to produce of the new-style Great Qing Copper Coin. In total, Shandong Province minted fewer than three hundred million pieces of Guangxu Yuanbao copper coins. However, during the minting process, various moulds were used simultaneously, resulting in a wide variety of coin designs.