Bian Coins Illuminate Qing History; Bronze Dragons Carry Central Plains Legacy

A Copper Coin, Half the Currency History of the Late Qing Dynasty.This set ofDa Qing Copper Coins with the character "Bian" at the center, minted by the Board of Revenue and valued at ten cash each, was born amid the wave of currency reform in the late Qing Dynasty. It is a classic legacy of the Bian Mint of the Board of Finance in Kaifeng, Henan. Integrating the imprint of the times, regional cultural heritage, and minted coin technology, it stands as a highly significant collection among local copper coins of the Qing Dynasty.

In the late Qing Dynasty, each province minted its own copper coins, resulting in chaotic designs, a disordered currency system, and hindered commercial circulation. In the 31st year of the Guangxu reign (1905), the Qing government reclaimed part of the coinage authority. The Board of Revenue issued unified master dies and promoted the Da Qing Copper Coin machine-struck copper coins nationwide. The small character at the center of each coin indicated the minting province: "Bian" is the exclusive abbreviation of Bianliang, the ancient capital now known as Kaifeng in Henan, representing the Henan Branch Mint. This set of coins was minted in the 32nd year of the Guangxu reign, the year of Bingwu (1906), serving as physical evidence of the central unified currency policy being implemented in the Central Plains. It bears witness to the New Deal reforms, fiscal changes of the late Qing Dynasty, and the true state of the civilian economy in the Central Plains region.

The collection is regular in form, conforming to the standards issued by the Board of Revenue. On the obverse, the four characters "Da Qing Tong Bi" (Great Qing Copper Coin) are inscribed inside the beaded border, with the character "Bian" engraved at the center to mark the minting location. Outside the beaded border, "Hu Bu" (Board of Revenue) appears on the left and right; Manchu inscriptions mark the coin at the top, with sexagenary cycle year marks on both sides, and "Dang Zhi Qian Shi Wen" (Valued at Ten Cash) engraved along the lower rim. The characters are dignified and vigorous, with deep, clear inscriptions.

On the reverse is the unified coiled dragon design issued by the Board of Revenue: the dragon body coils gracefully, with distinct scales and claws, presenting an imposing and majestic air. "Made in the Guangxu Reign" is cast along the upper rim, encircled by the English inscription "Tai-Ching-Ti-Kuo Copper Coin". The coexistence of Chinese and Western text on one coin epitomizes the integration of Chinese and Western cultures in modern times. The entire set of coins is made of pure copper. After a hundred years of history, they have developed a natural and mellow old patina, with a warm and restrained luster and natural circulation marks. There is no trace of artificial aging, and a strong sense of historical vicissitudes is vividly conveyed.

As a small-scale local branch mint in the late Qing Dynasty, the Bian Mint had a short coinage period and limited total mintage. Through wars and turmoil in the late Qing Dynasty and the transition to the Republic of China, a large number of copper coins were melted down for recoinage. It is truly rare for a complete set of ten-cash Bian-character copper coins in intact condition to survive to this day, making them far more valuable than individual scattered coins. A single coin offers only a partial glimpse, while a complete set can fully restore the circulation features of that era. Whether in terms of design details, the verve of the inscriptions, or the style of the dragon pattern, they can be cross-referenced, serving as rare physical historical materials for studying the modern coinage history of Henan and the copper coin system of the late Qing Dynasty.

This tiny copper coin bears the thousand-year charm of Bianliang and is engraved with the echoes of the dynasty's final era. This set of Board-of-Revenue-minted Da Qing copper coins with the center character "Bian" (valued at ten cash) transcends the mere circulation function of ordinary coins and becomes a tangible carrier of history. It is not only a circulating currency of the old era but also a cultural imprint of the Central Plains, witnessing great historical transformations. It is suitable for personal collection and decoration in elegant studios, and is also an indispensable category in the landscape of coin collections, boasting profound cultural heritage and long-term collection potential.

This collection has been acquired by the Mainland Collection Office of Singapore Royal Auction Co., Ltd. and Henan Luoyang Yulan Auction Co., Ltd. For detailed information and collector appreciation, please contact us.

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