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In 1661, The young Shun Chih Emperor caught smallpox and passed
away. His third son, Hsuan Yeh was
chosen to succeed the throne at the age of eight with the reign
title K'ang Hsi. The Emperor K'ang Hsi had reigned China for
61 years. His long and prosperous reign periods was famous not
only of the Qing dynasty but of the whole of Chinese history.
When he passed away in 1722, he left a flourshng and stable kingdom.
The coinage of K'ang Hsi reign followed the forms of the last
two issues of the Shun Chih coin. The obverse of the coins bearing
with the reign title of the Emperor K'ang Hsi, along with the
characters "T'ung Pao" in Chinese. The reverse of the
coins, except those cast by the two principal mints in Peking,
Kung-pu Pao Yuan Chu
[Board of Works] and Hu-pu Pao Ch'uan Chu
[Board of Revenue], all the provincial
K'ang Hsi coins, show the mint mark in Manchu script [left] along
with the mint mark [right] in Han script. The mint marks of the
two principal mints were written in Manchu scripts only, appear
on either side of the hole on the reverse. The forms are consistent
until the beginning of the Yung Zheng coinage. But the number
of the provincial mints was often changed. This was certainly
caused by the increased or decreased work in connection with
the cash production. In 1662, most of the provincial mints were
terminated casting coins except Kiangsi Mint (Nanchang) and the
two principal mints in Peking. It might be because of the over
supply of the copper cash or the price of cash was too low at
the beginning of K'ang Hsi reign.*
* |
Obverse | Reverse | Description |
No. 0046 | ||
Mint: Shansi | ||
Diam. 27 mm | ||
Wt. 4.3 g. | ||
Rareness E | ||
Mint Evolution and Peculiarity | ||
This coin was cast from 1667 to 1670, bearing Manchu character "Tung" [left] and Chinese character "T'ung" [right] (Tat'ung) on the reverse. Tat'ung mint was established in 1645, and moved to Yangh'u in 1649. In 1656, the thirteenth year of the Shun Zhi reign, the mint moved back to Tat'ung, began casting coins bearing with Chinese character "T'ung" on the reverse. [For the better administration of the national finance, the Qing government ceased casting cash in all the provincial mints in the 1st year of the K'ang Hsi reign (1662AD), except Kiangning Mint, Board of Revenue and Board of Works. In 1667, all the provincial mints were reopened for the need of the society.] | ||
Obverse | Reverse | Description |
No. 0047 | ||
Mint: Fukien | ||
Diam. 26.5 mm |
||
Wt. 3.3 g. | ||
Rareness D | ||
Mint Evolution and Peculiarity | ||
This coin was cast by Foochow mint with Manchu character "Fu"[left] and Chinese character "Fu" [right] on the reverse. As the character "Fu" means happiness; good fortune and felicity, Chinese collectors are especially fond of this coin. It is popularly used as amulet and people hope that it will protect the wearer against evil. The Foochow mint was first established in 1649 and It ceased minting in the 9th year of the K'ang Hsi reign (1670AD). In 1685, Foochow mint was reopened, and it terminated casting coins again in 1695. | ||
Obverse | Reverse | Description |
No. 0048 | ||
Mint: Shantung | ||
Diam. 26.5 mm |
||
Wt. 4.0 g. | ||
Rareness E | ||
Mint Evolution and Peculiarity | ||
This K'ang Hsi T'ung Pao [upper] was cast by Linching mint of Shantung province. On the reverse are characters "Lin" in both Manchu and Han scripts. Linching mint cast coins between 1647AD and 1675AD. There were two mints in Shantung province during K'ang Hsi reign. | ||
No. 0049 | ||
Mint: Shantung | ||
Diam. 27 mm | ||
Wt. 5.2 g. | ||
Rareness D | ||
This coin was cast by Tsinan mint which was another mint in Shantung
province. The mint was first established in the sixth year of
Shun Chih reign (1649AD). On the reverse are mint marks "Tung"
in both Manchu and Han scripts. Please be noted that if Chinese character "T'ung" with two dots on the obverse would be a very rare coin. Of course, for K'ang Hsi coin of Tsinan mint only. The upper Linching coin is showing the Chinese character "T'ung" with two dots on the obverse. This coin [lower] might be a Mu Ch'ien [Mother Cash weighing about 1.6 mace] for its inscriptions and rim are deep and clear. It is heavy in weight too. [5.22 grams = 1.4 mace] If this coin is not Mu Ch'ien, it should be a Chung Ch'ien [means heavy cash and suitable for K'ang Hsi copper cash only.] which was first cast in the 41st years of K'ang Hsi reign. (1702AD) |
||
Obverse | Reverse | Description |
No. 0050 | ||
Mint: Kiangsi | ||
Diam. 27 mm | ||
Wt. 4.3 g. | ||
Rareness D | ||
Mint Evolution and Peculiarity | ||
Kiangsi Mint (Nanchang) which began to cast coins in 1653 of the Shun Zhi reign. It had not stopped casting coins even in the first year of K'ang Hsi reign (1662AD). Although most of the provincial mints were terminated casting coins, due to the over supply of the copper cash and the price of cash was too low at the beginning of K'ang Hsi reign. |
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