Item number: A3286

Year: AD 1636-1911

Material: Brass

Size: 31.8 x 32.0 mm

Weight: 18.0 g

Provenance: Fuchin Coin 2025

This is a Qing Dynasty-era “Zhengde Tongbao” coin, minted as a “flower coin” in the era name of the previous Ming Dynasty emperor, Emperor Wuzong. The coin follows the typical square-holed design. On the obverse side, the four characters “Zhengde Tongbao” (正德通寶) are inscribed in regular script in the sequence of top, bottom, right, and left.

On the reverse side of the coin, auspicious and blessing-related phrases are inscribed on the right and left, specifically the two characters “大福” (Great Fortune), which convey the meaning of possessing immense blessings or abundant good fortune.

“Zhengde” was the era name of Emperor Wuzong of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Houzhao, who reigned from AD 1505 to AD 1521. However, during his reign, no coins bearing his era name were officially minted. The name “Zhengde” carries the connotation of “upright virtue,” which led to the Qing Dynasty’s production of many flower coins known as “Zhengde Tongbao.”

Flower coins, also known as “Yansheng coins” or “Yasheng coins,” were not formal currency. Initially, they were primarily used for prayers for good fortune and to ward off evil spirits. Over time, their usage became more widespread. These coins were minted from the Western Han Dynasty to the early Republic of China, with a particular abundance and variety during the Qing Dynasty.

物件編號: A3286

年代: 公元 1636-1911 年

材質: 黃銅

尺寸: 31.8 x 32.0 mm

重量: 18.0 g

來源: 福君錢幣 2025

這是一枚清朝時期以前朝皇帝明武宗的年號，所鑄造的「正德通寶」花錢。錢幣形制為典型的方孔錢。錢幣正面的正中央按上、下、右、左的順序，以楷書書法鐫刻漢字「正德通寶」四字。錢幣背面的右邊和左邊鐫刻吉祥祝福的詞彙，即擁有莫大福氣的「大福」兩字。

正德為明武宗朱厚照的年號 (公元1505至1521年)，但在位時間並未鑄造自身的年號錢。明武宗的年號「正德」有「端正品德」的雅意，故後世的清朝鑄造大量以「正德通寶」之名的花錢。花錢又稱厭勝錢、壓勝錢，非正式流通的貨幣，最初主要用於祈吉、驅邪，而後使用範圍越趨廣泛。從西漢至民初均有鑄造，尤以清代為盛，種類繁多。