Item number: A2965

Year: AD 1912-1925

Material: Copper

Size: 28.4 x 28.6 x 1.2 mm

Weight: 7.0 g

Manufactured by: Anqing Mint

Provenance: Spink 2023

This is a ten-cash copper coin struck by the Anqing Mint and issued by the Ministry of Finance between AD 1912 and 1925 as part of the series of Founding Commemorative Coins.

The obverse features the denomination “十文” (“Ten Wen”) in regular script at the centre, flanked by symmetrical motifs of auspicious grain (Jiahe) and leafy sprigs. The grass leaves on both sides are tied with decorative cords, forming a near-perfect circular knot. A fine ring separates the central motif from the surrounding inscriptions. Along the upper rim is the English inscription “THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA,” representing the national title. A pair of hollow four-pointed stars decorates either side, serving as separators between the upper and lower inscriptions. Along the lower rim is the English inscription “TEN CASH,” denoting the denomination.

The reverse displays a central crossed-flag motif. The flag on the right is the Five-Coloured Flag of the Beiyang Government period, symbolising the unity of five ethnic groups. Its five coloured stripes are rendered with four incised (intaglio) lines dividing five raised (relief) bands. The flag on the left is the Iron-Blood Eighteen-Star Flag, which after the Wuchang Uprising came to represent the federal republican alliance of the eighteen Han provinces. A large central star was added to symbolise the central government, forming the Beiyang Army and Navy flag. A small raised star is further incised within this central star. The two flags are crossed and tied with cords forming a triple-knot loop. A beaded circle separates the central design from the inscriptions. Along the upper rim is the national title “中華民國” (“Republic of China”) in regular script; the lower rim bears the inscription “開國紀念幣” (“Founding Commemorative Coin”), also in regular script. Solid five-pointed stars decorate each side, with an additional small star engraved within the central space between the two inscriptions.

Both obverse and reverse are enclosed by raised rims featuring fine, square inward-pointing denticles, referred to as “horse teeth,” which serve to protect the coin’s design. The coin edge is flat, smooth, and unadorned.

The minting history of the Anqing Mint dates back to AD 1897 (Guangxu 23rd year), when Anhui Provincial Governor Deng Huaxi established the Silver Dollar Bureau on the former site of the Gunpowder Bureau inside Anqing’s East Gate, initiating silver coin production. However, the operation lasted only slightly more than two years before being halted due to changes in Qing court policy. In AD 1902 (Guangxu 28th year), the site was repurposed as a copper coin bureau, issuing denominations such as Ten and Twenty Wen. It ceased operation in AD 1907 (Guangxu 33rd year) due to central government reforms to standardise copper coinage. Following the establishment of the Republic, the mint briefly resumed production, though output was frequently interrupted by political instability. In AD 1919 (Year 8 of the Republic), under the direction of Anhui warlord Ni Sichong, and with approval from the Beiyang Government, a copper coin sub-mint was re-established for local circulation within Anhui Province. The mint became a vehicle for Ni’s personal gain, producing large quantities of substandard copper coinage, as well as commemorative medals bearing his likeness. In AD 1925 (Year 14 of the Republic), operations were permanently discontinued due to central monetary reform and cost-related issues.

In AD 1912 (1st year of the Republic), the Republic of China was established, marking the end of monarchy and the rise of republican governance. The new government decided to issue “Founding of the Republic Commemorative Coins” to promote republican ideals, stabilise public sentiment and finances, and to replace the traditional Chinese cash coins with square holes. The form and style of the new coinage aligned with international monetary standards. The initiative was first led by the Nanjing Provisional Government and subsequently continued under the Beiyang Government. Thereafter, due to prolonged political instability and the fragmentation of authority among regional warlords, copper coins, though nominally auxiliary currency, in practise formed a separate monetary system. Their exchange rate with the silver-based primary currency fluctuated constantly. Coin designs varied across regions, and there were considerable differences in minting quality and copper composition. The units of denomination were also diverse and complex, including wen, mei, fen, li, and xian. In AD 1935 (24th year of the Republic), the Nationalist government initiated further monetary unification, designating the Shanghai Mint as the sole institution authorised to issue coinage, thereby bringing an end to the copper coin system inherited from the late Qing dynasty and ushering in the era of legal tender currency.

物件編號: A2965

年代: 公元 1912-1925 年

材質: 紅銅

尺寸: 28.4 x 28.6 x 1.2 mm

重量: 7.0 g

製造地: 安慶造幣廠

來源: 斯賓克拍賣行 2023

這是一枚由安慶造幣廠所鑄，財政部於公元1912至1925年所發行之開國紀念幣，為面額十文之銅元。

銅元正面中央幣文為「十文」楷書，兩側以嘉禾及草葉簇擁，兩側草葉以纓相繫，結環呈近正圓。以細環相隔，外圈上方環列英文「THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA」即國號「中華民國」；以實心六角星分飾兩側，分隔兩行幣文，下方環列「TEN CASH」，即面額「十文」。右側漫漶不清。

銅元背面中央為雙旗圖，右為北洋政府時期之國旗五色旗，象徵五族共和，五色旗各色條帶以四陰刻分隔五陽刻來表示；左為鐵血十八星旗，自武昌起義後象徵漢地十八省聯省共和，中央另加一巨星點則象徵中央政府，是為北洋陸海軍旗，星芒底端較細，末端粗，呈針氈球狀。雙旗交叉，以纓相繫成結，呈三繩圈。以細珠圈相隔，上方環列國號「中華民國」；下方環列「開國紀念幣」，皆為楷書。兩側分飾實心五瓣花，中央陰刻成圓，以相隔兩行幣文。左側漫漶不清。

銅元正背面幣緣均為凸環，有矩狀細齒向內，稱「馬齒」，作保護幣圖之用。幣稜平直，光素無紋。

安慶造幣廠的鑄幣歷史始於清光緒二十三年(公元1897年)，當時安徽巡撫鄧華熙在安慶東門城內火藥局舊址設立銀元局，開始鑄造銀元，然而僅運作兩年多即因清廷政策停辦。光緒二十八年(公元1902年)原址改設銅元局，鑄造當十、當二十等面額銅元，至光緒三十三年(公元1907年)因中央整頓銅幣政策而關閉。民國建立後，造幣廠一度復工，但因政局不穩，生產時續時停。民國八年(公元1919年)，在皖系軍閥倪嗣沖主導下，獲北洋政府批准重設銅元造幣分廠，專為安徽省內流通使用，並成為倪嗣沖的私利工具，除大量濫鑄品質低劣之銅元外，尚製造個人像章紀念幣。該廠於民國十四年(公元1925年)因中央整頓幣制與成本問題終止運作。

民國元年(公元1912年)，中華民國成立，帝制終結，共和方興。政府決定發行「開國紀念幣」，藉此宣揚共和理念、穩定民心與財政，同時替代傳統中國使用的方孔圓錢，形制上接軌世界。最初由南京臨時政府主導，隨後北洋政府繼續發行。此後，由於長期政局板蕩，軍閥割據，銅元名為輔幣，實則自成體系，與銀主幣匯率隨時而升降。幣圖各地不同，工藝與銅質更是差別頗大，紀值單位亦複雜多元，有文、枚、分、釐、仙等。民國二十四年(公元1935年)，國民黨政府開始進一步統一幣制，規定僅上海鑄幣廠有鑄幣權，終結作為晚清遺緒的銅元制，進入法幣時代。