Item number: A3458

Year: AD 1916 (AH 1334)

Material: Copper

Size: 32.8 x 32.9 x 1.5 mm

Weight: 13.4 g

Manufactured by: Kashgar

Provenance: Spink 2023

This is a 10-Cash copper coin dated AH 1334 (corresponding to AD 1916), issued in Kashgar, a remote oasis city in southern Xinjiang. It was minted to align with the short-lived Empire of China proclaimed by Yuan Shikai under the Beiyang Government, adopting the Hongxian reign title during his brief imperial experiment.

The overall condition of the coin is fair, though some of the inscriptions and details have been worn down. The obverse features a beaded circle, with a central bead at its centre. Arranged around this in the order top, bottom, right, and left are the four Chinese characters “洪憲銅幣” (Hongxian Copper Coin). Outside the beaded circle, the upper edge bears the denomination inscription “當紅錢十文” (Valid Red Money, 10 Cash), while the lower edge indicates the mint location as “新疆喀(什)造” (Minted in Kashgar, Xinjiang).

The reverse design features a motif commonly seen on Xinjiang coinage during the Republican period: a pair of crossed Five-Coloured Flags with vertical stripes. Above the flags, the space is inscribed vertically in Chagatai script with “ضو ب كاشنو” (Struck in Kashgar) and the Hijri year “۱۳۳۴” (AH 1334). Below the flags, the denomination is given as “مس جل اون داچن ليک” (worth ten red cash).

On December 12, AD 1915, Yuan Shikai, leader of the Beiyang Government, proclaimed the abolition of the republic and the restoration of the monarchy. He changed the national title from the Republic of China to the Empire of China, adopting Hongxian as his reign name.

However, Yuan’s imperial proclamation met with strong opposition from southern military leaders, most notably Cai E, who launched the National Protection War. Facing mounting military and political pressure, Yuan was ultimately forced to abandon the imperial system on March 22, AD 1916. Shortly after abdicating, he died of uraemia on June 6 of the same year at the age of 56.

物件編號: A3458

年代: 公元 1916 年 (回曆 1334 年)

材質: 紅銅

尺寸: 32.8 x 32.9 x 1.5 mm

重量: 13.4 g

製造地: 喀什

來源: 斯賓克拍賣行 2023

這是一枚回曆1334年 (公元1916年)，遠在西陲的南疆綠洲城市喀什，配合統治北洋政府的袁世凱稱帝之後，短暫成立的中華帝國和使用的洪憲年號，所發行的面額十文銅錢。

錢幣整體的保存狀況尚可，但有部分的文字和細節遭到磨蝕。錢幣正面有一道珠圈，珠圈內部是以中間的圓珠為中心，按照上、下、右、左的順序，鐫刻四個漢字「洪憲銅幣」。珠圈外圍的上緣打印面額「當紅錢十文」，下緣則是鑄造地點「新疆喀(什)造」。

錢幣背面的設計則是進入民國以來，新疆當地常見的錢幣設計圖案，即一對交叉的直豎條紋五色旗。旗幟上緣的空間從上而下，依序以察合台文標示鑄造地點「ضو ب كاشنو」(鑄造於喀什) 和回曆紀年「۱۳۳۴」(1334)。旗幟下緣則是打印面額「مس جل اون داچن ليک」(價值十枚紅錢)。

公元1915年12月12日，北洋政府的掌門人袁世凱在下屬的推舉之下，宣告廢除共和和恢復帝制，將國號從中華民國改為中華帝國，並且以洪憲作為年號。然而袁世凱宣布稱帝之後，受到蔡鍔為代表的南方軍閥反對和發動護國戰爭，最終被迫在公元1916年3月22日取消帝制。袁世凱本人在退位不久後，於當年的6月6日因尿毒症病逝，享年56歲。