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Qing Dynasty
Jiaqing Tongbao
Bao Chang Bureau
清
嘉慶通寶
寶昌局造
Item number: A580
Year: AD 1796-1820
Material: Brass
Size: 25.4 x 25.2 x 0.9 mm
Weight: 3.35 g
Manufactured by: Bao Chang Bureau
Provenance:
1. Noonans 2022
2. D. L. F. Sealy Collection
This is a “Jiaqing Tongbao” coin, minted during the Jiaqing period by the Bao Chang Bureau in Nanchang, Jiangxi Province. The coin follows the typical format of a square-holed coin and is made of brass. Its condition is poor, with the surface covered in green rust and a red patina, and there is a hole on the lower side. On the obverse side, the four Chinese characters “Jiaqing Tongbao” are inscribed in sequence from top, bottom, right, to left. The reverse side displays the Manchu script “ᠪᠣᠣ ᠴᠠᠩ” (Bao Chang) on the left and right, indicating the minting authority.
The Bao Chang Bureau was established in the 4th year of the Shunzhi reign (AD 1647). However, due to the lack of copper, lead, zinc, and other raw materials needed for minting in Jiangxi, as well as the shortage of skilled craftsmen in the region, the bureau experienced several interruptions in production. It wasn’t until the 1st year of the Jiaqing reign (AD 1796) that operations resumed.
After Jiaqing ascended to the throne following his father Qianlong’s abdication, he faced a massive financial crisis left behind by his predecessor. To address this, Jiaqing allowed the continued use of silver by the populace while simultaneously working to improve the quality of minted coins. As a result, the quality of “Jiaqing Tongbao” coins was notably superior and more standardised compared to the coins minted during the later years of Qianlong’s reign, with the weight officially set at 1 Mace 2 Candareens.
However, Jiaqing’s financial reforms were disrupted by frequent uprisings led by secret societies such as the White Lotus and Tianli sects. These disturbances undermined his efforts, leading to widespread private minting and even official adulteration of coinage, which in turn caused rampant inflation. In response, Jiaqing issued an edict permitting provinces lacking copper resources to suspend coin production. If they were to continue minting coins, the weight had to be strictly maintained at 1 Mace 2 Candareens. Consequently, many provinces ceased production, leading to a reduction in the circulation of copper coins and a subsequent stabilisation of prices.