Premium Recommendation — Da‑Qing Copper Coin (Chuan Mark)

*本次藏品：大清铜币中心川*

典藏尺寸：重：14.3g 14.7g 直径：33.5mm 33.7mm

这一组大清铜币中心川字版是清末户部主导币制改革之下诞生的经典铜元，既是清代晚期四川地区流通的官方货币，也是钱币收藏圈内广受追捧的名誉品种，兼具厚重的历史底蕴、独特的地域标识与极高的收藏价值。这枚镌刻着 “川” 字，是专门分配给四川省的铸币标识，代表此币由四川地方造币厂奉命铸造，由此，大名鼎鼎的中心川字版大清铜币应运而生。钱币流通的时期横跨光绪、宣统两个朝代，在巴蜀大地的市井商贸、百姓日常交易之中广泛流通，见证了晚清四川地区市井烟火与经济兴衰。

这组藏品正面，钱币中央赫然凸起一个醒目的 “川” 字，便是四川行省独有的身份烙印。“川” 字外围环绕 “大清铜币” 四个端庄厚重的汉字，币身外环镌刻满文干支纪年，侧边分列 “户部” 二字，下缘铸刻币值文字 “当制钱二十文”。字体雕刻刚劲有力，笔画顿挫分明，布局疏密有致，构图庄重大气，尽显官铸钱币的规整威仪。钱币背面，则是清代钱币标志性的蟠龙图案，神龙盘踞，龙鳞层叠，龙首昂扬，纹路繁复华丽，环绕龙纹的边缘同时刻印英文 “TAI‑CHING‑TI‑KUO COPPER COIN”，即 “大清帝国铜币”。中西文字同现一币之上，恰恰映射出晚清国门大开、中西文化交融碰撞的时代烙印，小小的一枚铜币，成为了近代中国社会转型的缩影。

历经一百余年的世事浮沉，这两枚铜币穿越战火、流转民间，得以完整留存至今。钱币表面布满醇厚自然的老包浆，铜锈层次丰富温润，锈色入骨，是漫长岁月氧化沉淀形成，不存在人工后期做旧痕迹。钱币正反面文字、龙纹图案轮廓清晰可辨，流通磨损均匀适度，币边完整无缺，没有明显的裂漏、磕碰损伤，保存状态在同期传世流通币之中属于难得的佳品。每一道斑驳锈迹，都是时光留下独有的印记，让钱币脱离了单纯货币的属性，化身为一件可以触摸、可以品鉴的历史实物。

This set of Da‑Qing Copper Coins with the central “Chuan” character is a classic type of copper coinage born from the currency‑reform initiative led by the Board of Revenue in the late Qing Dynasty. As official legal tender circulating in Sichuan during the late Qing period, it is a highly‑sought‑after renowned variety within the numismatic‑collecting community, boasting profound historical heritage, distinctive regional markings and exceptional collectible value. The engraved “Chuan” character served as a mint‑mark exclusively assigned to Sichuan Province, signifying that the coins were struck by the local Sichuan Mint under imperial order. Thus emerged the well‑known Da‑Qing Copper Coin of the central‑Chuan variety. Issued and circulated across the reigns of both Emperor Guangxu and Emperor Xuantong, these coins were widely used in market commerce and daily transactions among the populace across Bashu, bearing witness to ordinary‑life scenes and the economic ups‑and‑downs of late‑Qing‑era Sichuan.

On the obverse of this collection, a prominent raised “Chuan” character sits at the very centre of each coin — a unique identity mark of Sichuan Province. Surrounding the character are four stately, weighty Chinese characters “Da‑Qing Tong‑Bi” (Great‑Qing Copper Coin). The outer rim bears Manchu inscriptions and the sexagenary‑cycle year date, while the characters “Hu Bu” (Board of Revenue) are positioned on either side. At the bottom edge, the denomination “Dang Zhi Qian Er‑Shi Wen” (Equal to 20 cash coins) is cast. The characters are powerfully engraved with sharp, well‑defined strokes, arranged in a well‑proportioned, dignified composition that fully reflects the formal grandeur of officially‑minted currency. The coin’s reverse features the iconic coiled‑dragon motif typical of Qing‑Dynasty coinage. The dragon coils majestically, with finely‑detailed overlapping scales and a raised head rendered in rich, ornate patterns. Encircling the dragon runs the English legend “TAI‑CHING‑TI‑KUO COPPER COIN”, meaning “Copper Coin of the Great Qing Empire”. The coexistence of Chinese and Western inscriptions on one single coin mirrors the historical context of an opened‑up late‑Qing China, when Eastern and Western cultures converged and collided. This tiny copper token therefore stands as a miniature record of China’s social transformation in modern times.

After more than one hundred years of vicissitudes, these two copper coins survived wars and decades of private circulation to be preserved intact down to the present day. Their surfaces are covered in rich, natural aged patina with multi‑toned, deeply‑embedded verdigris, formed gradually through long‑term natural oxidation, free from artificial ageing treatment. The characters and dragon‑motifs on both obverse and reverse remain clearly distinguishable, with even, moderate wear from circulation. The coin rims are intact, free from cracks, holes or heavy impact damage, qualifying them as rare, well‑preserved specimens among surviving circulating coins of the same period. Every patch of mottled rust forms a unique mark left by time, lifting these coins beyond their original monetary function and transforming them into tangible historical relics available for close appreciation and study.

*本次藏品：大清铜币中心川*

典藏尺寸：重：14.3g 14.7g 直径：33.5mm 33.7mm

在古钱币收藏市场之中，大清铜币一直是清代铜元板块的热门主力军，而中心 “川” 字二十文版更是四川铜元里的名贵品类。由于清末时局动荡，四川地区战乱频发，当年铸造量本就有限，加上铜元在长期流通消耗，又经过民国、抗战等多次历史浩劫，大量钱币损毁遗失，时至今日品相完好的中心川二十文存世量逐年锐减，市场流通真品越来越稀缺。

近些年来，老铜元收藏热度持续升温，带有鲜明地方标识的省份版大清铜币，深受全国各地藏家青睐。相比于普通流通钱币，中心川字大清铜币附加了独一无二的巴蜀地域历史属性，它记录着晚清四川造币工业的发展轨迹，见证了清末币制改革失败的历史结局，历史研究意义深厚。藏品的价值不再局限于铜料本身，背后承载的历史故事、文化底蕴、稀缺属性，共同推高了它长远的升值潜力。

以钱为证，回望晚清风云；藏币于心，传承巴蜀文脉。这一组大清铜币中心川字二十文，集历史文物价值、艺术审美价值、地域文化价值、收藏投资价值于一身。既可作为地方历史藏品纳入私人馆藏，也适合高端拍卖会亮相展出，是古钱币收藏领域不可多得的精品，对于巴蜀文化爱好者与资深古泉藏家而言，实属不容错过的典藏珍品。

Within the ancient‑coin collecting market, Da‑Qing Copper Coins have long occupied a leading, sought‑after position among late‑Qing copper token collections. The 20‑cash variant bearing the central “Chuan” character, in particular, ranks as a prestigious rarity among Sichuan‑minted copper coins. Turmoil plagued the final years of the Qing Dynasty, with frequent armed conflicts sweeping across Sichuan. Mintage volumes for these coins were inherently limited from the outset. Widespread wear‑and‑tear during prolonged circulation, compounded by successive historical upheavals spanning the Republican era and the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, caused vast quantities of these coins to be destroyed or lost. As a result, well‑preserved authentic specimens of the central‑Chuan 20‑cash coin have grown scarcer year by year on the open market.

Interest in antique copper tokens has surged steadily in recent years. Provincial‑issue Da‑Qing Copper Coins marked with distinct regional identifiers are highly prized by collectors nationwide. Unlike ordinary circulating currency, the central‑Chuan Da‑Qing Copper Coin carries one‑of‑a‑kind historical ties to the Bashu region. It documents the developmental course of Sichuan’s minting industry in the late Qing Dynasty and bears witness to the ultimate failure of the imperial currency‑reform campaign, endowing the piece with profound research significance. Its value far exceeds the intrinsic worth of its copper metal. The embedded historical narratives, rich cultural connotations and growing rarity combine to strengthen its long‑term appreciation potential.

Let these coins serve as tangible testimony to the turbulent late‑Qing era; treasure these relics and pass down the cultural heritage of Bashu. This set of 20‑cash Da‑Qing Copper Coins with the central “Chuan” character integrates historical‑relic value, aesthetic‑artistic value, regional‑cultural significance and investment‑collecting value into one complete collection. Ideal for inclusion in private regional‑history archives as well as high‑end auction exhibitions, it represents an exceptional treasure within numismatic circles. For enthusiasts of Bashu culture and seasoned ancient‑coin connoisseurs, this coveted artifact is a collector’s opportunity not to be missed.

*本次藏品：大清铜币中心川*

典藏尺寸：重：14.3g 14.7g 直径：33.5mm 33.7mm

以上藏品相关信息请与四川极蕴拍卖有限公司联系，我们将为您提供一对一专业服务。

For more information about this collection, please contact Sichuan Jiyun Auction Co., Ltd. We will provide you with one-on-one professional service.