1 Cash - Tongzhi Tongbao; Boo-joo; with circle ND
| Brass | - | 21 mm |
| Issuer | Empire of China |
|---|---|
| Emperor | Qing dynasty › Tongzhi (同治帝) (1861-1875) |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
| Years | 1862-1874 |
| Value | 1 Cash |
| Currency | Cash (621-1912) |
| Composition | Brass |
| Diameter | 21 mm |
| Shape | Round with a square hole |
| Technique | Cast |
| Orientation | Medal alignment ↑↑ |
| Demonetized | Yes |
| Updated | 2024-10-03 |
| Numista | N#226686 |
|---|---|
| Rarity index | 100% |
Reverse
Two Manchu words (read vertically) separated by the hole, all with circle at various locations.
Script: Mongolian / Manchu
Lettering: ᠪᠣᠣ ᠵᡠᠣ
Translation: Boo-joo
Edge
Plain
Comment
The exact location of the 'Boo-joo' mint is unknown, although the various types of reverse symbols indicate somewhere around Yunnan, Guizhou, or Sichuan. With many symbols also beeing found on Yunnan-fu or Dongchuan coins, it is possible this is a local mintmark from the Yunnan (similar to Boo-dung).Another Boo-joo was used under Xianfeng, although that mintmark does not include a dot. It is possible the dot is correcting the spelling from the Xianfeng coins, or it is an entirely different mint.
Interesting fact
One interesting fact about the Standard circulation coin 1 Cash - Tongzhi (Tongbao; Boo-joo; with circle) ND (1862-1874) from Empire of China made of Brass is that it was designed by a French engraver named Charles Fournier. Fournier was hired by the Chinese government to create a new currency that would be more modern and easier to produce than the traditional Chinese coins. The result was the Tongzhi coin, which featured a circular shape and a standardized design that was easier to mass produce. This coin was used throughout the late Qing dynasty and became a symbol of China's modernization efforts during that time.