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His Story Treasures Presents
Later Jin Tianming Tongbao (天命通寶)
Bao Cui AU85 • Full Manchu Script Variety (滿天命) • Nurhaci • 1616–1626 • A Coin from the Birth of the Qing Dynasty
Long before the Qing Dynasty ruled all of China, there was a visionary leader who united the Jurchen tribes and laid the foundation for an empire.
His name was Nurhaci (努爾哈赤).
In 1616, Nurhaci proclaimed the Later Jin Dynasty and adopted the reign title Tianming (天命), meaning “Mandate of Heaven.” It was a declaration that Heaven itself had chosen a new dynasty to rise from the forests and plains of Manchuria.
To symbolize this new beginning, the Tianming Tongbao (天命通寶) was cast.
Unlike the traditional Chinese cash coins that had circulated for centuries, these remarkable coins introduced an important innovation. Many were struck with Manchu inscriptions, reflecting the emerging identity of the Manchu state while preserving the familiar round coin with its square center that Chinese merchants had trusted for generations.
This example is the desirable Full Manchu Script (滿天命) variety, where elegant Manchu characters surround the square hole on the reverse. More than a simple mint mark, these inscriptions proclaim the cultural confidence of a people preparing to reshape the history of East Asia.
Within only a few decades of this coin’s production, Nurhaci’s successors crossed the Great Wall, defeated the Ming Dynasty, and established the Qing Dynasty, which would govern China for nearly three centuries (1644–1912).
This humble bronze coin therefore represents far more than a monetary instrument.
It witnessed the birth of the last imperial dynasty of China.
It belongs to the brief but pivotal period when the Manchu state was still a rising power, not yet the master of the world’s largest empire.
Certified Bao Cui AU85, this specimen displays an attractive natural pale green patina with well-preserved legends and clear Manchu script. For collectors of early Qing history, Manchu numismatics, and transitional dynasties, the Tianming Tongbao remains one of the most historically significant issues ever produced.
Holding this coin is holding the very beginning of a dynasty that would change the course of Chinese history for the next three hundred years.
Its inscription speaks not only of currency—
It speaks of destiny.
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Coin Specifications
* Country: China
* Dynasty: Later Jin (後金)
* Founder: Nurhaci (努爾哈赤)
* Reign Title: Tianming (天命)
* Date: 1616–1626 AD
* Denomination: Tianming Tongbao (天命通寶)
* Variety: Full Manchu Script (滿天命)
* Type: Small Cash (小平)
* Material: Bronze
* Diameter: 27.0 mm
* Thickness: 1.8 mm
* Weight: 5.3 g
* Certification: Bao Cui Coins Rating (保粹評級)
* Grade: AU85 (極美85)
* Certification Number: B0L36A0272
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At His Story Treasures, we believe every historical artifact carries a story waiting to be rediscovered. Every coin we offer is carefully selected for its authenticity, historical significance, and collectible appeal. More than an ancient currency, this Tianming Tongbao is a tangible survivor from the birth of the Qing Dynasty, preserving the moment when Nurhaci’s new kingdom first proclaimed its Mandate of Heaven. Own the artifact. Preserve the story. Pass it on to future generations.
