1 Cash - Tongzhi Tongbao; Boo-joo; with crescent 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#226688 |
|---|---|
| Rarity index | 100% |
Reverse
Two Manchu words (read vertically) separated by the hole, all with crescent above.
Script: Mongolian / Manchu
Lettering: ᠪᠣᠣ ᠵᡠᠣ
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 crescent) 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 modernize their currency, and his designs for the Tongzhi coinage were inspired by traditional Chinese motifs, such as the crescent moon and the five-clawed dragon. The use of brass for the coin's material was also a departure from previous Chinese coins, which were typically made of copper or silver. This coin's unique design and material make it a valuable collector's item for numismatists today.