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4 Qian Bullion coinage, Hunan Branch of The Imperial Bank
| Issuer | Ta-Ching Imperial Bank, Hunan Branch |
|---|---|
| Year | 1908 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | Log in to see details |
| Currency | Log in to see details |
| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Diameter | 14.30 mm |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
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| Obverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Reverse description | The field bears six large Chinese ideograms arranged in three columns of two characters each, reading right to left: 省足平 / 肆紋錢, translating as 'Provincial Scale Fine Silver, 4 Qian.' The characters are deeply incised in a bold, calligraphic style consistent with the obverse. The design is enclosed within a raised inner circle, itself surrounded by a wide border of uniform beads matching the obverse treatment. The denomination and fineness standard are the sole design elements, with no additional ornaments or symbols in the field. |
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| Edge | Plain |
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| Additional information |
The Ta-Ching Imperial Bank was established in 1905 as the Qing dynasty's first modern central bank, with branch operations authorized across multiple provinces. The Hunan branch issue of 1908 came just three years before the dynasty's collapse, during a period when the central government was attempting — with limited success — to rationalize a chaotic currency system plagued by competing provincial coinages, foreign dollars, and fractional silver of wildly inconsistent fineness. These small bullion denominations were part of that reform effort, though the political will to enforce monetary uniformity never materialized before 1911.