Qing Dynasty

Xianfeng Chungbao

50 Cash

Bao Chang Bureau

咸豐重寶

當五十

寶昌局造

Item number: A2158

Year: AD 1854-1855

Material: Brass

Size: 51.5 x 50.6 x 2.9 mm

Weight: 40.2 g

Manufactured by: Bao Chang Bureau

Provenance: Da Chen Stamps and Coins Collection 2015

This is a Xianfeng Chungbao coin, issued by the Bao Chang Bureau responsible for minting in Jiangxi Province during the 4th to 5th years of the Xianfeng reign (AD 1854–1855). The denomination of the coin is 50 Cash.

The coin has the typical square-hole design. On the obverse, the inscription “咸豐重寶” is carved in Chinese characters, arranged in the order of top, bottom, right, and left. The reverse features the denomination “當五十” inscribed on the top and bottom sides in Chinese characters, while the left and right sides bear the Manchu inscription “ᠪᠣᡠ ᠴᠠᠩ” (Bao Chang), indicating the minting location. Notably, the outer rim of the reverse side features engraved lines and circular dots, suggesting that this coin may have later been repurposed for decorative use.

In the 3rd year of the Xianfeng reign (AD 1853), the successful capture of Nanjing by the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom caused a significant reduction in the Qing court’s tax revenue. Additionally, copper supplies from Yunnan were disrupted, leading to a severe shortage of materials for minting coins. To make matters worse, the Qing government faced immense military expenditures to suppress the Taiping rebellion. Consequently, on May 18th of the 4th year of Xianfeng (AD 1854), the court issued an edict instructing local officials to promptly establish mints in various regions to meet the financial demands.

In the 4th year of Xianfeng (AD 1854), the Bao Chang Bureau responded to the imperial decree by beginning the minting of 10-cash and 50-cash denomination coins. However, the bureau ceased production of the 50-cash coins the following year (AD 1855) and discontinued the 10-cash coins five years later.

物件編號: A2158

年代: 公元 1854-1855 年

材質: 黃銅

尺寸: 51.5 x 50.6 x 2.9 mm

重量: 40.2 g

製造地: 寶昌局

來源: 大城郵幣社 2015

這是一枚咸豐4至5年 (公元1854至1855年),負責江西省鑄錢事務的寶昌局發行之「咸豐重寶」,面額為五十文。

錢幣外觀為典型的方孔錢。錢幣正面按照上、下、右、左的順序,依序鐫刻漢字「咸豐重寶」。錢幣背面的上下兩側以漢字鐫刻面額「當五十」,其左右兩側標示鑄造地點的滿文「ᠪᠣᡠ ᠴᠠᠩ」(寶昌)。值得注意的是,背面的外廓還有刻以線條和圓點,代表這枚錢幣可能後續被用作裝飾用途。

咸豐3年(公元1853年),隨著太平天國成功攻陷南京,使得清廷一來賦稅收入減少,二來雲南的銅礦被迫中斷,使得國庫用以鑄造錢幣的原料極度缺乏。雪上加霜的是,清廷為盡早評定太平天國之亂尚需要龐大的軍事開銷應對。因此在咸豐4年(公元1854年) 5月18日,朝廷向各地方官員下諭,盡快於各地成立鑄錢局以應付開支。咸豐4年 (公元1854年),寶昌局響應朝廷開始鑄造面額十文和五十文的錢幣。不過寶昌局在隔年先行停鑄五十文,五年之後則停止鑄造十文。

類似/相同物件 請看:

臺灣 國立歷史博物館 National Museum of History

https://collections.culture.tw/nmh_collectionsweb/collection.aspx?GID=MIMKMEMAMXM2

中國 國家博物館 National Museum of China

https://www.chnmuseum.cn/zp/zpml/201812/t20181218_23670.shtml

更多相關訊息請參考:

高英民,《中國古代錢幣》(北京市:學苑出版社,2007)

唐與昆,《制錢通考》(北京市:中央民族大學出版社,1994)

馬超,〈清代江西寶昌局鑄錢考略〉《南昌師范學院學報》(2023),頁34-38

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