Summary

10 Cash, Issued by Hunan Province, Republic of China, nd (1909)
Minted by Changsha

Obverse Description

At centre, a six pettled rosette, around within circle of beads four Chinese characters; around, outside circle of beads, 6 characters

Reverse Description

At centre within a circle of beads, a 9 pointed star; around above, HU-NAN; around below, TEN CASH

Edge Description

plain

Significance

The modern mint at Changsha was opened in 1897 to produce profitable 1 and 10 cash coins. Provincial 10-cash coins, though only worth 3 or 4 cash were being forced into circulation throughout China. The number produced and the fact that they were not recieved in payment of taxes or government revenue saw them heavily discounted in circulation. On 22 August 1905 the Emperor approved a regulation that would establish a central mint at Tientsin (now Tianjin) with four branch mints at Nanking (now Nanjing), Tientsin, Wuchang and Canton (now Guangzhou). Expansion of all other mints was forbidden with an intention to close them when possible. The official banks were to watch money-changers and markets, with any attempt to raise or lower the value of the coins to be reported to the Board of Revenue or Provincial authorities. Changsha produced new, standardised, 10 cash coins in 1906 but was closed in 1907. It was re-opened to produce coins for the new Republic of China in 1912 and produced copper based coins until 1926.

More Information