Item number: A660

Year: AD 1748-1796

Material: Brass

Size: 24.7 x 24.5 x 0.8 mm

Weight: 2.95 g

Manufactured by: Bao San Bureau

Provenance:

1. Noonans 2022

2. D. L. F. Sealy Collection

This is a Qianlong Tongbao coin issued by the Bao San Mint in Shaanxi Province during the reign of Qianlong, the sixth emperor of the Qing Dynasty (AD 1735– AD 1796). The coin features a square hole in the centre.

The outer rim, inner rim, and central square hole of this coin are severely worn. The inner rim on the obverse is inscribed with the Chinese characters ” Qianlong Tongbao ” (乾隆通寶). The inner rim on the reverse bears the Manchu script “ᠪᠣᠣ ᡤᡳᠶᠠᠨ” (Boo San).

The coin’s outer rim, inner rim, and central square hole exhibit significant wear. The inner rim of the obverse is engraved with the four Chinese characters “乾隆通寶” (Qianlong Tongbao). On the reverse, the inner rim shows only faint outlines, which suggest the Manchu script “ᠪᠣᠣ ᠰᠠᠨ” (Bao San).

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 weighs only 2.95 g. 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 San Mint was originally named the “Xi’an Prefecture Mint” and was established in Shaanxi Province during the second year of the Shunzhi reign (AD 1645). Although minting activities occurred during the Yongzheng period, they were later suspended. Minting resumed only in the 13th year of the Qianlong reign (AD 1748). Initially, the Bao San Mint used imported copper from Japan. From the 17th year of Qianlong’s reign (AD 1752), Sichuan copper and Yunnan copper began to replace Japanese copper, whose usage gradually declined. The primary raw materials then came from Sichuan and Yunnan provinces, with copper from newly opened mines within Shaanxi Province also being utilised.

物件編號: A660

年代: 公元 1748-1796年

材質: 黃銅

尺寸: 24.7 x 24.5 x 0.8 mm

重量: 2.95 g

製造地: 寶陝局

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)，由陝西省「寶陝局」發行之「乾隆通寶」，其外觀為方孔錢。

錢幣的外廓、內廓和中央的方孔磨損嚴重。正面的內廓鐫刻漢字「乾隆通寶」四字。背面的內廓僅能從輪廓判斷應為滿文「ᠪᠣᠣ ᠰᠠᠨ」（寶陝）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，而此枚乾隆通寶的重量僅有2.95 g，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。

寶陝局最早的名稱為「西安府局」，在順治2年（西元1645年）於陝西省設立。雍正時期雖有鑄造，但後來又停止。直到乾隆13年（西元1748年）才又開始鑄造。寶陝局最初使用來自日本的洋銅，乾隆十七年開始使用川銅和滇銅，後洋銅用量逐漸減少，主要原料來自川、滇兩省，陝西省內自開礦的銅礦也開始使用。