1 Cash - Tongzhi Tongbao; Boo-joo; with dot ND
| Brass | - | 22 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 | 22 mm |
| Shape | Round with a square hole |
| Technique | Cast |
| Orientation | Medal alignment ↑↑ |
| Demonetized | Yes |
| Updated | 2024-10-03 |
| Numista | N#226687 |
|---|---|
| Rarity index | 100% |
Reverse
Two Manchu words (read vertically) separated by the hole, all with dot at various locations.
Script: Mongolian / Manchu
Lettering: ᠪᠣᠣ ᠵᡠᠣ
Translation: Boo-joo
Edge
ᠪᠣᠣ ᠵᡠᠣ
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 dot) 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 secure than previous coins. The coin features a unique combination of Chinese and Western design elements, with the obverse bearing the Chinese characters "通宝" (Tongbao) and the reverse featuring a stylized dragon and the denomination "1 Cash." The use of brass as the material for the coin was also a departure from previous Chinese coins, which were typically made of copper or silver. Overall, the Tongzhi coin was a significant departure from previous Chinese coins and marked a turning point in the country's monetary history.