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1 Cash - Tianqi Tongbao, Mi
| Issuer | Ming Dynasty Imperial Mint |
|---|---|
| Year | 1625-1627 |
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| Value | 1 Cash |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Central square hole surrounded by a plain raised inner rim and a wider outer rim. Four Chinese characters in regular script (kaishu) are arranged in cruciform fashion around the central perforation, reading top-bottom, right-left: 天 (Tian) above, 啓 (Qi) to the right, 通 (Tong) to the left, and 寶 (Bao) below, forming the reign title legend 'Tianqi Tongbao' (Heavenly Inauguration — Universal Currency). The characters are boldly cast in raised relief against a flat field, rendered in a formal calligraphic style characteristic of late Ming dynasty cash coinage. |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Chinese (traditional, regular script) |
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| Additional information |
Tianqi Tongbao coinage spans only the brief reign of the Tianqi Emperor, who ascended at fifteen and spent most of his rule more interested in carpentry than governance — a documented obsession that left administrative power effectively in the hands of the eunuch Wei Zhongxian. Mint output during these years was erratic, supervision lax, and quality control largely absent, which accounts for the wide variation in fabric and casting quality seen across surviving examples.
The "Mi" supervising mint designation narrows attribution considerably within what is otherwise a sprawling and inconsistently documented series.