© Stephen Album Rare Coins
© Stephen Album Rare Coins
1 Cash - Chongzhen Tongbao; northern type; with Yi Qian - type 2; with crescent ND
| Brass | 3.28 g | 24 mm |
| Issuer | Empire of China |
|---|---|
| Emperor | Ming dynasty › Chongzhen (崇祯帝) (1627-1644) |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
| Years | 1630-1644 |
| Value | 1 Cash |
| Currency | Cash (621-1912) |
| Composition | Brass |
| Weight | 3.28 g |
| Diameter | 24 mm |
| Shape | Round with a square hole |
| Technique | Cast |
| Orientation | Medal alignment ↑↑ |
| Demonetized | Yes |
| Updated | 2024-10-04 |
| Numista | N#222730 |
|---|---|
| Rarity index | 100% |
Reverse
Two Chinese ideograms (one abbreviated) to the left with crescent (facing up) below.
Script: Chinese (traditional, regular script)
Lettering:
一
力
Translation:
Yi Qian
1 Qian (weight of 1 Cash)
Edge
Plain
Comment
Hartill suggests the larger, heavier coins (around 26 millimetres and weighing 1.3 Qian) were the first 1 Cash pieces produced. By 1630, coins minted in the north weighted 1.0 Qian and coins minted in the south weighed 8 Fen or less.The Northern types and the Southern types are differenciated by the left part of Zhen.
- Northern types: 礻
- Southern types: 示
Interesting fact
One interesting fact about this coin is that it features a unique crescent shape on one side, which was a design element that was only used during the Chongzhen period (1628-1644) of the Ming dynasty. This crescent shape was meant to symbolize the moon and its association with the night, and it was believed to have been added to the coin design to help distinguish it from other coins in circulation at the time.
