Guangxu Yuanbao was one of the currencies in circulation during the Guangxu period of the Qing Dynasty. Zhang Zhidong, the governor of Hubei and Guangxi, was the first to introduce British minting machines to mint silver and copper coins, and then other provinces followed suit. A total of 19 provincial bureaus cast copper coins. In addition to the central household department, copper coins cast by local provinces all have the name of the province engraved on the upper edge of the front. Guangxu Yuanbao was the first large-denomination currency in circulation during the reign of Emperor Guangxu of the Qing Dynasty. It was among the first batch of currencies printed and circulated in my country that introduced overseas technology.

History background

In the Qing Dynasty, silver coins, banknotes, and copper coins went hand in hand. During the Jiaqing period, new silver coins were issued, and during the Guangxu period, more gold and silver coins were minted. The Westernization Movement also affected the minting industry. Zhang Zhidong, the governor of Guangdong and Guangxi, entrusted the British minister to order a complete set of minting machines in the UK in the 13th year of Guangxu (1887), and minted machine-made silver coins and copper coins for the first time at the Guangdong Money Bureau. Afterwards, various provinces followed suit and purchased foreign machinery to cast silver and copper coins. Including the Guangdong Money Bureau, many minting machines are ordered from the famous Birmingham Mint Co., Ltd. in London, England. The intervention of British large industry gave silver coins a Western color. The fusion of Manchu and Chinese cultures is clearly visible on the front of the coin, but the back of the coin clearly marks the intervention of Western culture.

silver dollar

Silver coins Guangxu Yuanbao were issued from 1898 to 1907. The normal fineness is 89%-90%. There is an inscription on the front, with the words "Made in XX Province" or "General Mint" in regular script on the top, the currency value on the bottom such as: "Kuping seven coins and two cents", the center reads "Guangxu Yuanbao", and the center of the coin is in Manchu. "Guangxu Yuanbao". On the back of the silver coin, the words "Made in XX Province" or "General Mint" are inscribed in small English standard font on the top of the outer ring. The English currency value is below. The inner ring is cast with a dragon in the center. It is in exquisite appearance and has a unique aesthetic style. . Although coins are small, they can still provide a glimpse into social culture.

copper

At the end of the Qing Dynasty, the price of copper rose sharply, and people spent their money on copper to obtain several times the profit. There was a money shortage in the market. Due to the suspension of minting money in Guangdong, the market was running out of money, and the circulation of small amounts was very inconvenient. In order to save the money shortage and influenced by Hong Kong copper coins and foreign currencies, in June of the 26th year of Guangxu, the governor of Guangdong and Guangxi, De Shou and the former governor Li Hongzhang, approved Guangdong to imitate the Hong Kong Tongxian casting mechanism copper coins. Therefore, the casting of machine-made copper coins in the Qing Dynasty began in Guangdong. Then Fujian, Jiangsu, Sichuan and other provinces successively imitated copper coins. Copper coins are made of 97%-98.3% red copper, 0.1% white lead, 1% tin and other combinations. Each coin weighs two coins and can be used to make ten coins. In the center of the front are "Guangxu Yuanbao" and "Baoguang" in Manchu, surrounded by a bead circle, and the inscription on the upper edge is "Made in Hubei Province". The era value on the lower edge is "Dang Shi"; the center of the back is cast with a "flying dragon" picture and a bead circle. The upper edge has the English era "KWANGTUNG" and the lower edge has the English era value "ONECENT". There is also a Guangxu Yuanbao at that time, with "Guangxu Yuanbao" on the front, Manchu characters and the name of the household (or province) on the outer edge, and twenty characters for making money on the bottom. Hubei Province pioneered the creation of copper coins in my country. In the following fifty years, copper coins were produced in large quantities. The total number should be tens of billions, and a large number of them still exist today. Privately minted ordinary copper coins cast unofficially are not of high value. Because machine-made copper coins are better cast than square-hole copper coins, they are popular among merchants and circulate smoothly. The following year, the government ordered the provinces along the rivers and coasts to allow imitation casting. Since then, copper coins have been minted all over the country. Therefore, copper coins were cast in different places at that time, which is the most obvious feature that distinguishes copper coins at different times.

foundry bureau

"Guangxu Yuanbao" was cast by nineteen provincial bureaus at that time. Except for the central household ministries, copper coins cast by local provinces all have the name of the province engraved on the upper edge of the front. Total: 1 Hubu; 2 Beiyang; 3 Jilin; 4 Fengtian; 5 Qingjiang; 6 Zhejiang; 7 Jiangnan; 8 Guangdong; 9 Shandong; 10 Fujian; 11 Hunan; 12 Hubei; 13 Sichuan; 14 Jiangxi; 15 Henan; 16 Anhui; 17 Guangxi; 18 Xinjiang; 19 Heilongjiang.

Collection value

The market price of Guangxu Yuanbao silver coins depends on the individual origin and condition, ranging from a few thousand yuan to millions.