© Stacks Bowers
© Stacks Bowers
1 Cash - Tongzhi Tongbao; Boo-je; trial strike ND
1866 year| Brass | 1.4 g | 20 mm |
| Issuer | Empire of China |
|---|---|
| Emperor | Qing dynasty › Tongzhi (同治帝) (1861-1875) |
| Type | Pattern |
| Year | 1866 |
| Value | 1 Cash |
| Currency | Cash (621-1912) |
| Composition | Brass |
| Weight | 1.4 g |
| Diameter | 20 mm |
| Shape | Round with a round hole |
| Technique | Cast |
| Orientation | Medal alignment ↑↑ |
| Demonetized | Yes |
| Updated | 2024-10-04 |
| Numista | N#226549 |
|---|---|
| Rarity index | 100% |
Reverse
Two Manchu words (read vertically) separated by the hole.
Script: Mongolian / Manchu
Lettering: ᠪᠣᠣ ᠵᡝ
Translation: Boo-je
Engraver: Désiré-Albert Barre
Edge
Plain
Comment
These coins were struck in Paris, and were China's first struck coins.In 1866, Zuo Zongtang, governor-general of Fujian and Zhejiang, requested permission from the emperor to open a modern mint in the Fuzhou Naval Shipyard, which was being built by the French. Zuo Zongtang expected the request to be granted, so he asked the Paris mint to strike some trials, but the emperor rejected his request, and the mint was never opened.
A total of 10 pieces have been made. As of 2022, six of them are traceable.
Bibliography:
Jun Li; 2022. “Tongzhi Tongbao pattern coin made by Monnaie de Paris”. Numismatique Asiatique, issue 41, pages 7-36. ISSN 2261-0545
Interesting fact
One interesting fact about the Pattern 1 Cash - Tongzhi (Tongbao; Boo-je; trial strike) ND (1866) from Empire of China made of Brass weighing 1.4 g is that it was minted during the Tongzhi era, which was a time of significant economic and political change in China. The Tongzhi Emperor ruled from 1862 to 1875, and during his reign, the government implemented a number of reforms aimed at modernizing China's economy and military. The introduction of new currency, such as this brass cash coin, was part of these efforts. The coin's design features the traditional Chinese characters for "Tongbao" or "Boo-je," which means "currency" or "money," and the fact that it was minted as a trial strike suggests that it was a test run for a larger production run. This coin is a rare and interesting example of the currency reforms that took place during the Tongzhi era.
Price
| Date | Mintage | VG | F | VF | XF | AU | UNC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ND (1866) | 10 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Values in the table are based on evaluations by sales realized on Internet platforms. They serve as an indication only for 1 Cash - Tongzhi (Tongbao; Boo-je; trial strike) ND (1866) coin.
