Qing Dynasty Local Private Prints Catalog

Author: Shi Changyou
Publisher:
Publishing Time: Not available
Features: Each period of prosperity in the issuance of private currency was marked by post-war economic hardship and national fiscal crises. For example, the first prosperous period coincided with the defeat in the Opium War, the signing of the Treaty of Nanking, which ceded Hong Kong Island and demanded a indemnity of 21 million taels of silver. The second prosperous period occurred after the defeat in the First Sino-Japanese War, the signing of the Treaty of Shimonoseki, which involved territorial cession and a indemnity of 200 million taels. The third prosperous period was during the Xinhai Revolution, the domestic warlord conflicts, and the time of chaos without a central authority. The defeat in wars led to the plunder of vast amounts of gold and silver, leaving the nation with only paper money to sustain itself. As the issuance of national paper money became too rampant and lost credibility, private currency in various regions flourished. This book collects over 800 types of private currency issued from the first year of the Qianlong reign (1736) to the third year of the Xuantong reign (1911), spanning 175 years across seven dynasties. It is arguably the most comprehensive book on Qing private currency in China, covering more than 20 provinces (cities) and over 200 counties (towns, villages), providing valuable physical materials for scholars and experts in the history of Qing currency, numismatics, and collectors.