page_title: Qing dynasty coinage
section_title: Vault protector coins of the Qing dynasty
hierarchical_section_title: Qing dynasty coinage / Vault protector coins of the Qing dynasty
caption_attribution_description: English: Vault Protector Coin of the Qing Dynasty, the inscription 大清鎮庫(Da Qing Zhen Ku) translates as "Vault Protector of the Qing Dynasty"
context_page_description: Qing dynasty coinage was based on a bimetallic standard of copper and silver coinage. The Manchu Qing dynasty ruled over China from 1644 until it was overthrown by the Xinhai revolution in 1912. The Qing dynasty saw the transformation of a traditional cash coin based cast coinage monetary system into a modern currency system with machine-struck coins, while the old traditional silver ingots would slowly be replaced by silver coins based on those of the Mexican peso. After the Qing dynasty was abolished its currency was replaced by the Chinese yuan by the Republic of China.
context_section_description: Vault protector coins were produced for a period of over a thousand years starting in the country of Southern Tang during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period and were produced until the Qing dynasty. Speculations exist that claim that coins that had a function of being "vault protectors" might even predate this era by another millennium. These non-circulating coins were typically cast to commemorate the opening of new furnaces for casting cash coins.
  These coins were significantly larger, heavier and thicker than regular cash coins and were well-made as they were designed to occupy a special place within the treasury of the mint. The treasury had a spirit hall for offerings to the gods of the Chinese pantheon, and Vault Protector coins would be hung with red silk and tassels for the Chinese God of Wealth. These coins were believed to have charm-like magical powers that would protect the vault while bringing wealth and fortune to the treasury.
caption: A Da-Qing Zhenku (大清鎮庫) vault protector coin of the Qing dynasty.
exif: {}