Item number: A717

Year: AD 1735-1796

Material: Brass

Size: 22.4 x 22.2 x 0.9 mm

Weight: 2.7 g

Manufactured by: Bao Chuan Bureau

Provenance:

1. Noonans 2022

2. D. L. F. Sealy Collection

This coin is a Qianlong Tongbao issued by the Bao Chuan Bureau of Sichuan Province during the reign of the sixth Qing Emperor, Qianlong (1735 to 1796). It is a square-holed cash coin with a design that is both clear and detailed.

The coin’s outer rim, inner rim, and central square hole are remarkably well-defined. On the obverse side, the inner rim is inscribed with the four Chinese characters “乾隆通寶” (Qianlong Tongbao), while the reverse side features the Manchu script “ᠪᠣᠣ ᠴᡠᠸᠠ” (Boo Cuwa), signifying Bao Chuan. The Manchu script appears relatively bold in style.

During the Qing dynasty, coins typically did not explicitly indicate their denomination, relying instead on size and weight as distinguishing factors. Standard one cash coin measured between 24.2 and 28.0 mm in diameter and weighed approximately 3.8 to 4.2 g. However, this particular Qianlong Tongbao coin has a diameter of 23.5 mm and weighs 22.4 g. Given the widespread issue of privately minted coins during the Qianlong period, it is speculated that this specimen might be a product of private minting.

The Bao Chuan Bureau was the sole provincial minting institution in Qing dynasty Sichuan, established in Chengdu Prefecture during the Yongzheng era and operational for 172 years, from the high Qing period under Kangxi, Yongzheng, and Qianlong to the Guangxu reign. Coins produced by the bureau included one cash, large denomination coins, as well as modern silver and copper coins, which circulated widely in Sichuan, Shaanxi, Gansu, and other western regions. The establishment and operation of the Bao Chuan Bureau not only facilitated the economic and financial development of Sichuan but also supported neighbouring provinces by supplying currency to meet local needs. Its output and coin quality ranked among the top provincial mints in the nation, contributing significantly to the Qing dynasty’s monetary system.

The Qianlong era marked the peak of development for the Bao Chuan Bureau, during which its coin production volume, administrative systems, and regional influence reached unprecedented levels. In the early Qianlong period, the stabilisation of Sichuan’s copper mines enabled a significant expansion of the bureau, increasing the number of furnaces to 30 and achieving an annual output of 150,000 to 170,000 strings of coins. This production required approximately 700,000 catties of Sichuan copper annually. Beyond fulfilling Sichuan’s internal demand, the bureau also supported neighbouring provinces such as Shaanxi and Gansu by supplying coins.

During the Qianlong reign, the Qing government placed great emphasis on the management and operational efficiency of the Bao Chuan Bureau. The primary materials used for minting coins included locally sourced copper from Sichuan, white and black lead from other provinces, and a small quantity of tin purchased from Yunnan. By optimising the combination of these materials, the bureau significantly enhanced the quality and durability of its coins. To further improve production efficiency, the Bao Chuan Bureau introduced a mechanism for recycling and re-melting old coins in the mid-to-late Qianlong period, which substantially reduced wastage of copper resources.

In the late Qianlong period, the minting activities of the Bao Chuan Bureau became increasingly significant due to the growing fiscal demands of the state. Against the backdrop of economic prosperity, the Qing government rigorously monitored the production and circulation of copper coins to stabilise the monetary market, thereby fostering sustained regional economic development.

物件編號: A717

年代: 公元 1735-1796 年

材質: 黃銅

尺寸: 22.4 x 22.2 x 0.9 mm

重量: 2.7 g

製造地: 寶川局

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)，由四川省的「寶川局」發行之「乾隆通寶」，其外觀為方孔錢。

錢幣的外廓、內廓和中央的方孔十分清晰。正面的內廓鐫刻漢字「乾隆通寶」四字，背面的內廓則鐫刻滿文「ᠪᠣᠣ ᠴᡠᠸᠠ」（寶川）二字，滿文字型較粗。

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23.5mm，重量為22.4 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。

寶川局是清代四川唯一的省級鑄錢機構，設立於成都府，始於雍正年間，歷經康雍乾盛世至光緒年間，延續172年。局內鑄造的錢幣涵蓋了清代的平錢、大錢，以及近代銀元與銅元等多種類型，廣泛流通於四川、陝西、甘肅等西部地區。寶川局的設立與運營不僅促進了四川的經濟金融發展，還在滿足地方需求的同時，多次支援鄰省的錢幣供應。其鑄錢量與質量在全國省局中居於前列，對清代的貨幣制度具有重要意義。

乾隆年間是寶川局的發展高峰期，其鑄錢量、管理制度與地域影響均達到新高度。乾隆初期，因四川銅礦資源逐漸穩定，寶川局大幅擴建鑄爐數量至30座，年鑄錢量達15萬至17萬串。其中，每年大約需用川銅70萬斤，除了供應四川內部需求外，還協助其他省份，如陝西、甘肅，提供錢幣支持。

乾隆年間，清政府高度重視寶川局的管理與運營效率。局內鑄錢的主要原料包括四川本地的銅、外省的白鉛與黑鉛，以及少量從雲南購買的錫，通過合理的原料搭配提升了錢幣的質量與耐用性。為進一步提升鑄錢效能，寶川局在乾隆中後期引入破碎舊錢的回收與重鑄機制，顯著減少了銅原料的浪費。

乾隆後期，寶川局的鑄錢活動因國家財政需求的增長而更顯重要。在國家經濟繁榮的背景下，清政府通過嚴格監控銅錢的鑄造與流通來穩定貨幣市場，促進了區域經濟的持續發展。