1906 China – Hunan Province
10 Cash | NGC MS 61 BN
Offered here is a 1906 Hunan Province 10 Cash from the final years of the Qing Dynasty. Certified NGC MS 61 BN, this copper coin represents China's transition toward modern machine-struck coinage while retaining the traditional symbolism of the imperial dragon.
Historical Background
The coin was issued during the reign of the Guangxu Emperor (1875–1908), when the Qing government was undertaking monetary and institutional reforms in an effort to modernize China.
Hunan Province, located in central China, was an important agricultural, commercial, and strategic region. Its provincial mint produced a variety of machine-struck copper coins during the late Qing period, including several collectible dragon varieties.
The 1906 date is particularly significant because it falls only a few years before the Xinhai Revolution of 1911, which ended Qing imperial rule and led to the establishment of the Republic of China.
The Dragon Design
The dragon was one of the most important symbols of Qing imperial authority, representing the emperor, strength, power, and legitimacy. Its use on modern machine-struck copper coinage combined traditional Chinese imagery with modern minting technology.
Hunan copper coins are especially interesting to collectors because the series contains numerous varieties and differences in mintmarks, dragon designs, lettering, clouds, and other details.
Coin Details
Country: China
Dynasty: Qing Dynasty
Emperor: Guangxu Emperor
Province: Hunan
Year: 1906
Denomination: 10 Cash
Type: Hunan Provincial Copper Coin
Metal: Copper / Bronze
Grade: NGC MS 61 BN
Condition: Mint State
Color: Brown (BN)
NGC Population
According to the population figures provided:
MS 61 BN: 65 examples
Higher Grades: 78 examples
Historical Significance
This coin is a tangible reminder of the final years of imperial China. Produced shortly before the fall of the Qing Dynasty, it represents the meeting of traditional Chinese imperial symbolism and modern Western-style coin manufacturing.
At more than 120 years old, this NGC-certified Hunan 10 Cash is an attractive addition to collections of Qing Dynasty coinage, Chinese dragon coins, provincial copper issues, and certified world coins.
Please see the photographs and NGC certification for the exact variety, surfaces, color, and condition of the coin.
