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Qing Dynasty
Qianlong Tongbao
Aksu Bureau
清
乾隆通寶
阿克蘇局造
Item number: A1510
Year: AD 1761-1765
Material: Copper
Size: 24.3 x 24.5 x 0.8 mm
Weight: 3.9 g
Manufactured by: Aksu Bureau
Provenance: Fuchin Coin 2020
This is a Qianlong Tongbao coin minted in AD 1761 (the 26th year of the Qianlong reign) by the Aksu Bureau, established in southern Xinjiang. The coin is made of red copper.
The coin features the typical Chinese square-holed design, with a full and robust appearance. On the obverse side, the four Chinese characters Qianlong Tongbao (乾隆通寶) are engraved in the order of top, bottom, right, and left. On the reverse side, the left and right sides are inscribed with the mint location, Aksu, in Manchu script (᠇ᠴᠰᡠ) and Uyghur script (ئاقسۇ), respectively.
Aksu, an important oasis city on the northern edge of the Tarim Basin, means “white water” in Uyghur. In AD 1760 (the 25th year of the Qianlong reign), the Qianlong Emperor first established a mint in Yarkand, Southern Xinjiang, to reclaim pul coins left by the Dzungar Khanate. In the following year, AD 1761 (the 26th year of the Qianlong reign), another mint was established in Aksu, which had abundant copper resources. Craftsmen were transferred from Yarkand and Shaanxi to assist with the operation of the Aksu Mint.
In AD 1765 (the 30th year of the Qianlong reign), the Aksu Mint temporarily ceased operations, transferring its responsibilities to the Uqturpan (Ush) Mint. However, in AD 1799 (the 4th year of the Jiaqing reign), coin-minting operations were relocated back to Aksu. During the Qing Dynasty’s rule over Southern Xinjiang, the Aksu Mint became the longest-running and most productive mint in the region. It remained in operation until its permanent closure in AD 1892 (the 18th year of the Guangxu reign).
Since the Qianlong reign, following the conquest of the Dzungars in Northern Xinjiang and the Khoja uprisings in Southern Xinjiang, the region was incorporated into the Qing Empire. Local mints were established to produce coinage for the area. Notably, the Qing Empire generally used the Tianshan Mountains as a dividing line. In Northern Xinjiang, where Mongols, Manchus, and Han Chinese immigrants were more populous, minting practises followed those of Central China, with brass serving as the primary material for coinage. In contrast, in Southern Xinjiang, where Uyghurs were the majority, local customs were respected, and red copper was used as the main material, giving rise to what was colloquially known as “red cash.” The Qing administration further stipulated that the issuance and circulation of these two types of coinage would be divided geographically, with Turpan (Tokson) serving as the boundary.