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1 Cash - Chongzhen Tongbao, northern type, Bing
| Issuer | Ministry of War Mint (兵部局), Ming Dynasty |
|---|---|
| Year | 1630-1644 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | Log in to see details |
| Currency | Cash (621-1912) |
| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Weight | Log in to see details |
| Diameter | Log in to see details |
| Thickness | Log in to see details |
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| In circulation to | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Chinese (traditional, regular script) |
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| Reverse description | Log in to see details |
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| Reverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Edge | Plain |
| Mint | Log in to see details |
| Mintage | Log in to see details |
| Additional information |
The Ministry of War Mint — the 兵部局 — was established specifically to fund military operations during the catastrophic final years of the Wanli and Chongzhen reigns, when the Ming treasury was effectively bankrupt from simultaneous pressure by Manchu forces in the north and the rebel armies of Li Zicheng from within. The "Bing" (兵) reverse mark directly identifies this mint's military funding mandate, distinguishing its output from the dozen or more other workshops striking Chongzhen Tongbao simultaneously.
Brass rather than bronze indicates a deliberate material substitution as copper supplies became contested — a small metallurgical detail that speaks to the supply chain collapse of the 1630s and 1640s.