339, Lot: 582. Estimate $75. Sold for $45. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

CHINA, Qīng dynasty. Wénzōng (Xiánfēng). AD 1851-1861. FE Wén (23.5mm, 4.47 g, 12h). East Branch of the Board of Revenue iron coin (Běijīng) mint. Cast circa 1855-1859. Xian Feng Tong Bao in Hànzì characters / boo chiowan in Manchu script to left and right. Hartill 22.727. Good VF. Attractive rust-free surfaces. An exceptional iron coin.

From the HLT Collection.

The iron coin mint was established in 1856 at the behest of Prince Hui. The terrible Taiping uprising had necessitated more payments to the army, driving the mint to produce larger denominations of cash. These massive 50, 100, 500, and 1000 cash coins were rapidly depleting Imperial copper reserves, leaving little for the standard cash issues. In response, Hui memorialized for permission to explore the use of iron and zinc for the regular cash. The mint that was eventually established, though bearing the name of the Board of Revenue mint, bore no actual relation to the main branch.