Item number: A1373

Year: AD 1866-1874

Material: Silver

Size: 37.4 x 37.4 mm

Provenance: Fuchin Coin 2024

This is a very rare Qing Dynasty fantasy silver coin recorded in the Standard Catalog of Rare World Coins, named “Emperor Tongzhi Happiness and Health Tribute.”

The minting location and time of this silver coin can likely be traced back to as early as the 5th year of the Tongzhi reign (AD 1866) in British colonial Hong Kong, where mechanical coin minting began. While the colonial authorities in Hong Kong produced silver coins for local circulation, they also created two sets of pattern coins for the Qing government’s consideration. However, the Qing government ultimately rejected the proposal, and the coins were not adopted.

The obverse of this coin features a front-facing portrait of Emperor Tongzhi dressed in a dragon robe and a winter ceremonial crown. Since the emperor’s appearance was rarely directly revealed to the public, it is likely that the portrait was based on official paintings or imagined depictions. The reverse showcases two clockwise-circling five-clawed dragons, with a central square enclosing the Chinese characters “Emperor Tongzhi / Happiness and Health Tribute” in two lines. It is speculated that the coin was intended to commemorate a special occasion, such as the emperor’s birthday or an anniversary of his ascension to the throne.

Emperor Tongzhi was the ninth emperor of the Qing Dynasty and the only surviving son of the preceding Emperor Xianfeng. His mother, Empress Dowager Ci’an, was a prominent political figure who dominated the late Qing court. Tongzhi ascended the throne at the age of six but never held real power throughout his short life, as governance was controlled by his mother, Empress Dowager Cixi. Although official records attribute his death at the age of 20 to smallpox, rumours persist among the populace that he succumbed to syphilis contracted during visits to brothels.

物件編號: A1373

年代: 公元 1866-1874 年

材質: 銀

尺寸: 37.4 x 37.4 mm

來源: 福君錢幣 2024

這是一枚十分罕見於《勞克斯世界稀有硬幣目錄》一書有記載的清代臆造銀幣，名稱為「同治皇帝福健恭進」。

這枚銀幣的鑄造地點和時間，可能最早能追溯到同治5年(公元1866年) 起，開始進行機械鑄幣的英國殖民地香港。港英當局一面生產在香港流通的銀幣外，亦有製造兩套樣幣供清政府參考，然而遭到後者的拒絕未能採納。

這枚錢幣的正面是身穿龍袍和冬季朝冠的同治皇帝正面肖像，由於皇帝的容貌不易親自展示於世人面前，故應該是參考相關的畫像自行臆造。錢幣背面是一對順時針方向環繞的兩條五爪飛龍，中間的方框內打印兩行漢字「同治皇帝/福健恭進」，判斷其動機是慶祝皇帝大壽或登基周年等特殊日子。

同治皇帝為清朝第九任皇帝，為先帝咸豐唯一存活的子嗣，生母懿貴妃是主宰晚清政壇的女強人慈禧太后。同治皇帝在六歲登基到二十歲病逝為止，一生並未掌握實權。雖然據正史記載天花為同治皇帝的死因，但民間卻盛傳實則遊歷私娼染上梅毒而亡的說法。