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1 Cash - Chongzhen Tongbao, southern type, Jiu
| Issuer | Ministry of Revenue Mint (戶部局) |
|---|---|
| Year | 1630-1644 |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Technique | Cast |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
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| Obverse lettering | 崇 寶 通 禎 (Translation: Chong Zhen Tong Bao Chongzhen (Emperor) / Universal currency) |
| Reverse description | Cast reverse featuring a central square perforation flanked by a raised inner rim and outer border, both plain. A single Chinese character 舊 (Jiu, meaning 'old') appears in bold regular script relief above the square hole, identifying the issuing mint. The remainder of the reverse field is plain and unadorned, consistent with standard Ming cash coinage practice. |
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| Additional information |
The Chongzhen reign (1628–1644) was among the most chaotic in Ming history — peasant rebellions under Li Zicheng, Manchu pressure from the north, and a treasury gutted by decades of military expenditure forced the ministry mints to operate under severe resource constraints. The result was chronic inconsistency in alloy quality and weight across issues, with brass substituting where bronze supplies fell short.
The "Jiu" (九) reverse character on this southern type denotes the issuing furnace or batch designation used by the Hubu mint to track production runs — a bookkeeping measure, not a denomination marker. Chongzhen killed himself on Coal Hill as Li Zicheng's forces entered Beijing in April 1644, ending production abruptly.