CHINA KANG XI TONG BAO 1 cash (1662-70 AD) Jiangning mint

Description

The Kang Xi Emperor ruled 61 years, from 1661 to 1722. He defeated the Taiwan based Koxinga rebellion, then had to deal with the revolts of Wu Sangui and his allies, which lasted until 1681. Thereafter he governed well and the country grew rich.

A rebel took Beijing and the last Ming Emperor committed suicide. A Ming loyalist general invited the Manchus into China to aid the Ming heir but instead they proceeded to conquer the country in what some think produced more casualties than any previous war. The Qing Dynasty promoted culture and the economy flourished until the Europeans arrived with their Industrial Revolution and opium.

The oldest Chinese coins are at least as old as the earliest Greek coins. The Chinese coinage system differed from other systems in two ways. It was monometallic, only bronze coins circulated in general commerce. Gold and silver were treated as commodities. And the manufacturing method was by casting in moulds rather than by striking heated solid planchets. The main reference I use in attributing and describing these coins is the book: Chinese Cast Coins, by David Hartill.