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His Story Treasures Presents
An Empire Under Pressure — Xianfeng Yuan Bao 500 />
The Story
Imagine being asked to accept a single coin as payment for five hundred ordinary cash. Its broad rim and bold inscriptions might convey authority, but its value would ultimately depend on your confidence in the government that issued it.
That question of confidence lies at the heart of the Xianfeng large-denomination coinage.
During the Xianfeng era, China’s Qing government faced rebellion, mounting military expenditure, and disrupted revenues and copper supplies. The Taiping conflict intensified these pressures, prompting the government to introduce large-denomination copper-alloy coins alongside paper currency. These measures sought to stretch limited resources, but their success depended on public acceptance. (en.wikipedia.org)
The denomination on this coin—當五百, meaning “value five hundred”—expresses that ambitious monetary policy in just three characters. Its face value was a declaration of imperial authority, rather than a statement that it contained the metal of five hundred ordinary coins. As confidence weakened, large-denomination cash traded at discounts, revealing the gap between official value and everyday commerce. (en.wikipedia.org)
The holder identifies this example as 咸豐元寶寶泉, a Xianfeng Yuan Bao attributed to the Bao Quan mint. Its obverse places four substantial Chinese characters around the square central opening. On the reverse, the denomination appears with Manchu mint inscriptions, bringing the Qing Empire’s bilingual monetary tradition into the design.
For today’s collector, this type opens a conversation about war, money, and trust: how a government attempted to sustain its finances, and how the people using its currency responded.
The Coin
* Attribution on holder: Qing dynasty, Xianfeng Yuan Bao, Bao Quan mint
* Denomination: 500 cash — 當五百
* Obverse inscription: 咸豐元寶
* Reverse: 當五百 with Manchu mint inscriptions
* Diameter: 57.3 mm
* Thickness: 3.6 mm
* Weight: 57.3 g
Measurements are recorded on the holder and supplied certification record.
Condition & Presentation
The photographs show pronounced lettering, a broad outer rim, and brown and golden surface coloration with darker patches and areas of wear. At 57.3 mm across, the coin offers a substantial display presence and clearly visible design details.
Please examine all photographs closely to assess the surfaces, inscriptions, and holder condition. The pictured coin and holder are the items offered.
Grading & Certification
The coin is encapsulated in a holder marked 致臻評級 — Zhizhen Grading, with an assigned grade of 極美90.
Certificate number: B2D37I7592
The supplied certification screenshot displays matching identifying details and 保粹評級 branding. The grade is quoted exactly as assigned by the service and is not presented as a PCGS or NGC equivalent.
A Collection with a Story
For collectors of Chinese cash coins, Qing monetary history, or large-denomination currency, this piece represents a compelling historical theme: the relationship between the authority stamped on money and the confidence placed in it.
Giving Back
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His Story Treasures — Every Coin Holds a Story.
