1 Cash - Hongwu Tongbao, Yi Qian

The Hongwu Emperor founded the Ming Dynasty in 1368 after driving out the Mongol Yuan, but his monetary policy was deeply conflicted. He distrusted copper coinage — associating it with Yuan-era disorder — and repeatedly attempted to suppress it in favor of paper currency, the Da Ming Baochao. Copper cash were officially abandoned in 1380, then reinstated, then suppressed again. The result is a series produced in fits and starts across multiple mints, with substantial variation in weight and module even within a single reign designation.

The yi qian ("one cash") denomination is the base issue of the series. Hartill notes production across at least ten provincial mints during Hongwu, each adding their own mint marks.