Digital museum showcasing the collection of worldwide legends over the years! 千古不朽博物館展示多年來收藏的世界傳奇故事!
Qing Dynasty,
Guangxu Tenga,
5 Fens,
Guangxu 4th year,
Khotan, Xinjiang
清
光緒天罡
五分
光緒四年
新疆于闐造
Item number: A1394
Year: AD 1878
Material: Silver
Size: 13 x 11.5 mm
Manufactured by: Khotan, Xinjiang
Provenance: Fuchin Coin 2024
This coin, minted in AD 1878 (Guangxu 4th year) in Khotan (modern-day Hotan), located in southern Xinjiang, is a silver coin with a denomination of five fen. The obverse displays the denomination “五分” (Five Fen) in Chinese on the top and bottom, while the left and right sides are inscribed with the Arabic “خو تن” (Khotan), also meaning “Five Fen.” The reverse features a square at the centre surrounded by four Chinese characters arranged from top to bottom and left to right, reading “光緒銀錢” (Guangxu Silver Coin).
This design signifies the integration of local cultural elements, including the use of Arabic for the Muslim population, and represents the Qing Empire’s efforts to assert sovereignty and economic control over the region following its reconquest during the Guangxu Emperor’s reign. The coin reflects the strategic importance of Khotan as an economic and cultural hub within the Qing administrative framework for southern Xinjiang.
In AD 1878, the Qing dynasty launched a campaign to reconquer Xinjiang under the command of General Zuo Zongtang. This military effort was driven by the Qing government’s need to address a critical border crisis that emerged following a period of internal strife and external aggression. Since being annexed by the Qing during Emperor Qianlong’s reign, Xinjiang had served as a crucial frontier region. However, the mid-19th century saw a weakening of Qing control over the region due to internal uprisings, such as the Taiping Rebellion, and the pressure exerted by foreign powers. The situation worsened in the 1860s, when Alikhan Tura, a general of the Khanate of Kokand, exploited the instability to establish a separatist regime in southern Xinjiang, backed by foreign forces. This not only challenged Qing sovereignty in the northwest but also disrupted the economic stability along the Silk Road.The recapture of Xinjiang and its subsequent reintegration into the Qing Empire not only stabilised the border region but also strengthened centralised control over distant territories. This, in turn, had a lasting impact on the territorial integrity and development of modern China.
Economically, following the reconquest, the Qing government implemented a series of monetary reforms to restore local economic activities. The standardisation of the silver-based currency system was a key aspect of these efforts. Regional mints, including the one in Khotan, played an important role by producing local coinage such as the Guangxu silver coins. These coins, which circulated widely, facilitated trade and economic integration, while also symbolising Qing sovereignty over Xinjiang.Through these measures, the Qing dynasty not only revived economic life in Xinjiang but also reinforced its presence in this strategically vital region.