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1 Cash - Qingyuan Tongbao, Tong, iron
| Issuer | Empire of China |
|---|---|
| Year | 1195-1201 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | 1 Cash |
| Currency | Log in to see details |
| 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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| Technique | Log in to see details |
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| Engraver(s) | Log in to see details |
| In circulation to | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | The obverse presents the four-character reign title legend 慶元通寶 (Qingyuan Tongbao) arranged in Regular script (kaishu) around a central cast square hole, reading clockwise from the top. The characters are bold and well-formed, each occupying one of the four cardinal positions relative to the central aperture. A plain raised rim borders the coin, with the flat field showing the characteristically rough surface typical of Southern Song iron cash. The legend reads: top 慶 (Qing), right 元 (Yuan), bottom 寶 (Bao), left 通 (Tong). |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Log in to see details |
| Obverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Reverse description | Log in to see details |
| Reverse script | Log in to see details |
| Reverse lettering | 同 五 (Translation: Tong / Wu Tong`an (mint) / Year 5) |
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| Additional information |
The Qingyuan reign period (1195–1201) fell under Emperor Ningzong of the Southern Song, a ruler whose court was dominated almost entirely by the chancellor Han Tuozhou. Han's political grip extended to the currency: the aggressive expansion of iron cash production during this period was driven partly by a chronic shortage of copper, diverted increasingly toward military hardware as Song forces faced relentless pressure from the Jin dynasty to the north. Iron cash circulated primarily in inland and southern circuits where copper coinage rarely penetrated in sufficient volume.
Hartill 17.406 is the standard tong-style casting — the script reading tong rather than yuan distinguishes this variety and places it within a specific regional or temporal production window within the reign.