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1 Cash - Wanli Tongbao, Tian
| Issuer | Empire of China |
|---|---|
| Year | 1576-1620 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | Log in to see details |
| Currency | Log in to see details |
| Composition | Brass |
| 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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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Chinese (traditional, regular script) |
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| Reverse description | Log in to see details |
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| Reverse lettering | 天 (Translation: Tian [Uncertain mint]) |
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| Mintage | Log in to see details |
| Additional information |
The Wanli Emperor's reign produced an extraordinary volume of cash coinage, but output was chronically inconsistent — provincial mints varied wildly in alloy quality and flan preparation, and central oversight was frequently nominal. The "Tian" mint mark denotes the Tianfu mint, one of the board of revenue facilities operating under the Ministry of Works during this period. Brass composition distinguishes these later Ming issues from the earlier billon and bronze strikes, reflecting the broader shift in Chinese metallurgical practice as zinc smelting became industrially viable during the sixteenth century.