| Obverse description |
Four Chinese characters in raised relief arranged around the central square hole, reading top, right, bottom, left: 道 (Dào), 光 (Guāng), 元 (Yuán — or 通 Tōng), 寶 (Bǎo), forming the reign title 道光通寶 (Daoguang Tongbao), referencing the Daoguang Emperor of the Qing dynasty (r. 1820–1850). The field is granulated with a decorative dotted pattern between the characters and the outer rim. |
| Reverse description |
Two confronted dragons in high relief, their scaled bodies curling symmetrically around the central square hole, with heads meeting above the aperture and tails sweeping below. The dragons are depicted in fine detail with clawed feet, scaled bodies, and elaborate fin-like appendages, set within a plain raised rim. |
