This is a “Kangxi Tongbao,” a circulating coin minted during the reign of the Qing Dynasty’s third emperor, Kangxi (AD 1661-AD 1722), at the Linqing Prefecture mint in Shandong Province.This coin has been artistically enhanced with carved decorations around the outer edge on both sides, transforming it into a “flower coin.”
The coin is circular with a square hole in the center, primarily made of brass. The coin features a design of concentric circles, with the outer circle displaying a brass colour and the inner circle, which contains the inscriptions, exhibiting a blackish-brown hue. The outer circle is intricately decorated with three repeating motifs of a three-petalled flower, fruit, and leaves, showcasing fine carving craftsmanship.
The inner circle, centred around a square hole, has the four characters “Kangxi Tongbao” inscribed in regular script, positioned respectively at the top, bottom, right, and left.
The reverse side of the coin features an outer circle adorned with two sets of radiating lines and elegant floral patterns. The inner circle, centred around a square hole, has the mint location inscribed on the left and right sides. The left side bears the inscription in Manchu script, while the right side has the corresponding Chinese character “Lin”, representing Linqing.
During the Kangxi era, in addition to the central mints “Baoquan Bureau” and “Baoyuan 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 “Baodong Bureau.”
In the 18th year of the Shunzhi reign (AD 1661), after Kangxi ascended the throne, various regional mints, including the Baolin Bureau, received samples and began minting Kangxi Tongbao coins. However, in the following year, the 1st year of the Kangxi reign (1662 AD), 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 Baolin Bureau was granted approval by the Ministry of Revenue to resume operations. In the 12th year of the Kangxi reign (AD 1673), the Baolin Bureau received another order to cease minting operations, and there are no records of it resuming thereafter.
In the 14th year of Kangxi (AD 1675), the operations of the Baolin Bureau were entirely transferred to the Baodong Bureau, marking the end of the Baolin Bureau’s history.
