CO129-080 - Sir Robinson - 1861 [1-3] — Page 288

CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 All AI Reviewed

Cash is made from izon, an alloy of Copper. It is circular, about tenths of an inch in diameter and has a square hole in the centre by which the pieces are strung in parcels of a hundred for the convenience of counting as also of carrying. It is cast and not stamped or minted. The coin bears the name of the Province in which it is cast on the right side of the square hole, and the Manchu writing for the word "Money" on the left side of the square hole. On the reverse are four Chinese characters, one above and below the hole, giving the Emperor's name (as Kwang Hsu, Kien Lung etc.) and the words "tung pao" signifying current money.

The weight of a cash piece should be 57.98 grains, one Mace (tsien), and hence it is called by the same name, but modern cash coins weigh from 62 to 64 grains exclusive. The value of the coin as fixed by Government is the thousandth part of a tael's weight of silver, at which rate about 700 would be equal to a dollar; but, through the laxity of the Provincial Governors (there being mints in most of the Provinces) and the fraud of the workmen employed, the coin has for many years been debased in the coarsest manner.

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2026-05-18 22:12:47 · NVIDIA / meta/llama-4-maverick-17b-128e-instruct
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Cash is made from izon, an alloy of Copper. It is circular, about tenths of an inch in diameter and has a square hole in the centre by which the pieces are strung in parcels of a hundred for the convenience of counting as also of carrying. It is cast and not stamped or minted. The coin bears the name of the Province in which it is cast on the right side of the square hole, and the Manchu writing for the word "Money" on the left side of the square hole. On the reverse are four Chinese characters, one above and below the hole, giving the Emperor's name (as Kwang Hsu, Kien Lung etc.) and the words "tung pao" signifying current money. The weight of a cash piece should be 57.98 grains, one Mace (tsien), and hence it is called by the same name, but modern cash coins weigh from 62 to 64 grains exclusive. The value of the coin as fixed by Government is the thousandth part of a tael's weight of silver, at which rate about 700 would be equal to a dollar; but, through the laxity of the Provincial Governors (there being mints in most of the Provinces) and the fraud of the workmen employed, the coin has for many years been debased in the coarsest manner.
Baseline (Original)
23 is made from izon, and auh Alloy of Copper, It is tutenaque - circular, mini tenths of in diameter and has an incl a square hole in the centre by which the are pieces hundred for string in parcels of a the convenience of counting as also of exrrying. It A is cast and not stamped minted. the bone bears the the name of the Province in which it is carć in the right side square hole, and the manchu manehu writing the "word for "Money" " the left left on the Riversi are your chinese characters, Lore above and below the hole hose giving the Emperon's Mame (as k 922 Tau Kwary, Arin fum tc.) and the words "tung pan" cipitying current suoney Rit. the lift and role cock picce The weight of should be 57.98 grains one Munec, (trein), and hence it is called by the same name, but modern ricas weigh from 62 to 64 grains excl. He vaine of the coin as coin as fired by Government in the thousandth part of a thel's weight of silver at which rate about 700 would be equal to a dollar; but, through! the raracity of the Provincial Governors there being mints in most of the Provinces) of the fraud of the workmen on employed, the coin has for many years been debared in the coarsent mauve. i
2026-05-18 22:12:47 · Baseline
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23

is made from izon, and auh

Alloy of Copper,

It is

tutenaque -

circular, mini tenths of

in diameter and has

an incl

a square

hole in the centre by which the

are

pieces hundred for

string in parcels of a

the convenience of counting as also of exrrying. It

A

is cast and not stamped minted. the bone bears the

the name of

the

Province in which it is carć in

the right side

square hole, and the manchu

manehu writing

the

"word for "Money"

"

the left

left on the

Riversi

are

your chinese characters,

Lore above and below the hole hose

giving

the Emperon's

Mame

(as

k

922

Tau Kwary, Arin fum tc.) and the words "tung pan" cipitying

current suoney

Rit.

the

lift and role cock picce

The weight of

should be 57.98 grains

one Munec,

(trein), and hence it is called by

the same name,

but modern ricas

weigh from 62 to 64 grains excl. He

vaine of the coin as

coin as fired by Government

in the thousandth part of a thel's weight

of

silver at which rate about 700 would be equal to a dollar; but, through! the raracity of the Provincial Governors

there

being mints in most of the Provinces) of the fraud of the workmen

on

employed, the coin has for many years been debared in the coarsent mauve.

i

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