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Qing Dynasty,
Qianlong Tongbao,
Unknown
(Privately Minted Version 2)
清
乾隆通寶
不明
(私鑄二版)
Item number: A650
Year: AD 1735-1796
Material: Brass
Size: 23.5 x 23.6 x 1.2 mm
Weight: 3.7 g
Provenance:
1. Noonans 2022
2. D. L. F. Sealy Collection
This is a coin known as the Qianlong Tongbao, issued during the reign of the sixth emperor of the Qing dynasty, Emperor Qianlong, who ruled from AD 1735 to 1796.
The coin’s outer and inner rims, along with the central square hole, show significant wear. The inner rim of the obverse side reveals only faint traces of the character “Tong” (通), while the other three characters, “Qianlong Bao” (乾隆寶), are completely worn away. The reverse side is completely illegible.
Qing dynasty coins typically lacked explicit denomination markings, relying instead on size and weight for differentiation. Standard Xiaoping Qian (small coins) measured 24.2–28.0 mm in diameter and weighed 3.8–4.2 g. This particular Qianlong Tongbao measures 23.5 mm in diameter and weighs 3.7 g. Given the prevalence of privately minted coins during Emperor Qianlong’s reign (AD 1735–1796), this coin is suspected to be privately minted. However, excessive use leading to wear may also explain the reduced weight and size.
The prevalence of privately minted coins during this period stemmed from a combination of increased demand and challenges in governance. Economic prosperity during Emperor Qianlong’s reign heightened the need for currency, while official mints struggled to meet market demands. Dependence on copper sourced from Yunnan (滇銅) led to fluctuations in material costs and logistical issues, further elevating production expenses. Remote regions such as Guizhou, plagued by economic underdevelopment and inadequate official coin supply, relied heavily on privately minted coins for daily transactions. Government efforts to curb private minting by reducing the weight of official coins were largely ineffective, inadvertently encouraging further illicit minting. Additionally, the lack of clearly marked denominations on Qing coins lowered the barrier for counterfeiting, exacerbating the problem. Thus, both policy shortcomings and economic constraints contributed to the proliferation of privately minted Qianlong Tongbao coins.