Why Do Qing Dynasty Coins Have Manchu Writing?

Understanding Manchu Inscriptions, Imperial Mints, and the Monetary System of the Qing Empire

By MING YE

When examining coins from China's Qing dynasty (1644–1912), collectors and history enthusiasts often notice something unusual.

On one side of a traditional copper-alloy cash coin, there are usually four Chinese characters arranged around a square hole.

On the reverse, however, there may be two unfamiliar symbols that look nothing like Chinese characters.

These symbols are often written in Manchu.

For example, a common Qing dynasty coin may display the Chinese inscription 乾隆通宝 (Qianlong Tongbao) on the front, while the reverse contains two Manchu words identifying the mint associated with its production.

Why did Qing dynasty coins include Manchu writing?

Was Manchu used because the Qing emperors were Manchu? Were the inscriptions intended to indicate the coin's value, identify the emperor, or record where the coin was manufactured? And why do some Qing coins contain Manchu while others have only Chinese inscriptions?

The central explanation is that Manchu was an important official language of the Qing dynasty, and its appearance on coins reflected the dynasty's administrative institutions and minting system. On many Qing cash coins, the Manchu inscriptions identified the mint rather than simply repeating the Chinese inscription on the front.

These small inscriptions provide valuable evidence of how language, government authority, and monetary administration were connected in the Qing empire.

1. What Did a Typical Qing Dynasty Coin Look Like?

The most familiar Qing dynasty cash coins were round, usually made from copper alloys, and had a square hole in the center.

This basic design had existed in China for many centuries before the Qing dynasty.

The square hole made it possible to string coins together for counting, storage, and transactions.

On the front, or obverse, Qing cash coins commonly displayed four Chinese characters.

These generally consisted of an imperial reign title followed by the words 通宝 (tongbao), conventionally translated as “circulating treasure” or “current treasure.”

For example:

乾隆通宝 — Qianlong Tongbao

The first two characters identify the Qianlong reign.

The final two characters indicate the conventional coin inscription tongbao.

The reverse frequently contained Manchu writing.

In many standardized Qing cash-coin series, the reverse inscriptions identified the mint responsible for producing the coin.

However, not every Qing coin followed exactly the same design.

Coin inscriptions, materials, denominations, and production methods changed across different reigns and regions.

2. Why Did the Qing Dynasty Use Manchu on Coins?

The Qing dynasty was established by the Manchu ruling elite.

The Manchu language belongs to the Tungusic language family, while its writing system developed from traditional Mongolian script.

According to Qing historical accounts, Nurhaci commissioned the creation of an early Manchu script in 1599.

Important reforms associated with Dahai around 1632 further developed the script's distinguishing dots and circles.

Manchu became an important written language in the Later Jin and Qing states.

It was used in government administration, military affairs, imperial communications, and official records.

After the Qing established control over Beijing in 1644, Chinese remained widely used throughout the empire's administrative and economic systems.

The Qing state therefore maintained institutions in which Manchu and Chinese were used for different but related purposes.

Coinage was one area where this linguistic environment became visible.

The Chinese inscription on the front continued an established monetary tradition.

The Manchu inscription on the reverse introduced information associated with the Qing minting system.

The presence of Manchu on Qing coins was therefore both an administrative feature and a visible expression of the dynasty's official language practices.

3. What Do the Manchu Characters on the Back of Qing Coins Mean?

On many Qing cash coins, the Manchu inscriptions identify the mint.

A mint is an institution or facility authorized to manufacture coins.

Different Qing mints operated under central or provincial administrative arrangements.

The reverse inscription helped identify the mint associated with a particular coin.

One of the most important words found in these inscriptions is:

boo — ᠪᠣᠣ — mint or treasury in Qing coinage terminology

In ordinary Manchu vocabulary, boo means “house” or “home.”

In Qing numismatic usage, however, boo became part of established names for minting institutions.

It should therefore be interpreted according to the historical context rather than translated mechanically as “house.”

For example, a reverse inscription might contain boo together with another word identifying a specific mint.

This is one reason the reverse of a Qing coin is historically informative.

It may preserve the administrative identity of the mint that produced the coin.

4. What Does “Boo Ciowan” Mean on a Qing Coin?

One of the best-known Manchu mint inscriptions is:

Boo Ciowan (ᠪᠣᠣ ᠴᡳᠣᠸᠠᠨ)

This designation is associated with the Board of Revenue mint in Beijing.

The Board of Revenue, known in Chinese as 户部 (Hubu), was one of the central government ministries of the Qing dynasty.

It was responsible for important fiscal and financial administrative functions.

In Qing numismatic terminology, Boo Ciowan identifies the Board of Revenue mint.

The word Ciowan reflects the historical Manchu rendering associated with the Chinese name of the minting institution, particularly the element 泉 (quan) in 宝泉 (Baoquan).

It is important not to interpret the entire expression as an ordinary modern Manchu sentence.

It is an established institutional designation.

For collectors, identifying Boo Ciowan is a useful first step in recognizing coins produced by one of the Qing capital mints.

5. What Does “Boo Yuwan” Mean?

Another common inscription is:

Boo Yuwan (ᠪᠣᠣ ᠶᡠᠸᠠᠨ)

This inscription identifies the Board of Works mint in Beijing.

The Board of Works was known in Chinese as 工部 (Gongbu).

Its responsibilities included important government construction and public works functions.

The associated mint was traditionally known as 宝源局 (Baoyuan Ju).

In Qing coinage, Boo Yuwan identifies this minting institution.

The distinction between Boo Ciowan and Boo Yuwan is particularly useful.

Both refer to important central government mints in Beijing, but they identify different administrative institutions.

A collector who recognizes these two inscriptions can distinguish between two major mint designations even when the Chinese inscriptions on the front are identical.

6. Why Are There Different Manchu Words on Qing Coins?

Because the Qing government operated multiple mints.

Coins bearing the same imperial reign title could be produced at different minting institutions.

The reverse inscriptions helped distinguish these sources.

The following examples illustrate several commonly encountered Manchu mint designations.

Manchu mint designationAssociated mint or locationBoo CiowanBoard of Revenue mint, BeijingBoo YuwanBoard of Works mint, BeijingBoo JeZhejiang provincial mintBoo SuJiangsu provincial mintBoo FuFujian provincial mintBoo GuangGuangdong provincial mintBoo YunYunnan provincial mintBoo ShanShaanxi provincial mint

These are conventional Romanized names used in Qing coin studies.

The precise written forms and administrative circumstances should be checked against the coin type and historical period.

A mint name alone does not necessarily identify the exact city, workshop, or production date without additional numismatic evidence.

The table also should not be treated as a complete list of Qing mints.

The Qing monetary system included additional minting institutions, and their operations changed over time.

7. Why Do Qing Coins Have Chinese on One Side and Manchu on the Other?

This arrangement combined two different functions.

The Chinese inscription on the obverse commonly identified the imperial reign under which the coin was issued.

The Manchu inscription on the reverse commonly identified the mint.

For example:

Coin sideExampleMain informationObverse乾隆通宝Qianlong reign inscriptionReverseBoo CiowanBoard of Revenue mintReverseBoo YuwanBoard of Works mint

The two sides were therefore not necessarily translations of each other.

This is an important distinction.

On a bilingual palace plaque, the Manchu and Chinese sections may represent corresponding versions of the same building name.

On many Qing coins, however, the Chinese and Manchu inscriptions perform different functions.

The Chinese side identifies the reign title.

The Manchu side identifies the mint.

In other words, the Manchu writing on many Qing coins is administrative information, not simply a Manchu translation of the Chinese characters.

8. Did Every Qing Dynasty Coin Contain Manchu?

No.

Qing coinage changed substantially over the dynasty's long history.

Early Qing cash coins did not all use the later standardized two-word Manchu mint inscription format.

During the Shunzhi reign, for example, different coin types employed different reverse arrangements.

Some carried Chinese inscriptions, while others introduced Manchu elements.

The familiar system of Manchu mint names became particularly characteristic of later standardized Qing cash coinage.

There were also special issues, regional variations, commemorative pieces, and coins produced under different monetary arrangements.

During the late Qing period, machine-struck coins increasingly appeared alongside or replaced traditional cast cash coins.

These newer coins could carry Chinese inscriptions, Manchu writing, English lettering, numerical denominations, and other design elements, depending on the issue.

Therefore, the presence or absence of Manchu should never be used as the sole method for dating a Qing coin.

A reliable identification requires examining the entire design.

9. When Did Manchu Mint Inscriptions Become Common?

The development of Manchu inscriptions on Qing cash coins was gradual.

During the Shunzhi reign (1644–1661), coin designs underwent several changes.

Different reverse inscription systems were used as the Qing government established and reorganized its monetary administration.

Some early issues followed patterns inherited from earlier Chinese coinage traditions.

Others incorporated mint identifiers and Manchu writing.

By the Kangxi reign (1662–1722), Manchu mint inscriptions had become an important and recognizable feature of many Qing cash coins.

The Kangxi period also saw different combinations of reverse inscriptions, including coins with Chinese mint marks and coins with Manchu mint designations.

Later reigns, including Yongzheng, Qianlong, Jiaqing, and Daoguang, continued to use Manchu mint inscriptions in many regular cash-coin series.

The precise development of these conventions is best studied through dated coin types and Qing monetary regulations.

It should not be reduced to a claim that one emperor suddenly introduced Manchu on every coin.

10. What Can a Qianlong Coin Tell Us?

The Qianlong reign lasted from 1736 to 1795.

Coins bearing the inscription 乾隆通宝 are among the most familiar Qing cash coins encountered by collectors.

A typical example may have:

• Four Chinese characters on the obverse: 乾隆通宝.

• A square hole in the center.

• A Manchu mint inscription on the reverse.

• A cast copper-alloy body.

The Chinese inscription identifies the Qianlong reign title.

The Manchu inscription can identify the mint associated with the coin.

However, the inscription alone does not necessarily establish the exact year of production.

A coin bearing the Qianlong reign title may require further analysis of its calligraphy, dimensions, weight, metal composition, and known varieties.

Furthermore, some coins bearing earlier reign titles continued to be produced or reproduced in later contexts.

Therefore, a Qianlong inscription should not automatically be treated as proof that the object was manufactured during a particular year of the Qianlong emperor's reign.

11. Why Is Manchu on Qing Coins Written Vertically?

Manchu inherited its traditional writing direction from Mongolian script.

It is written from top to bottom, with columns progressing from left to right.

Its letters are normally connected within words.

On Qing coins, however, the available space was extremely limited.

The reverse of a small cash coin had to accommodate the central square hole as well as the mint inscription.

As a result, Manchu words were arranged to fit the coin's design.

The inscription may appear as separate vertical groups on either side of the hole.

This arrangement can make the writing difficult for beginners to recognize.

A collector may see only two elongated symbols without realizing that each is composed of connected Manchu letters.

In fact, these inscriptions represent words, not individual pictographic characters.

Their appearance reflects the adaptation of a vertical alphabetic writing system to a small circular object.

12. Are the Manchu Inscriptions on Coins the Same as Manchu Seal Script?

Not necessarily.

Manchu seal script refers to specialized formal or decorative letterforms used in certain Qing seals and related inscriptions.

Coin inscriptions, by contrast, were shaped by minting technology and the practical requirements of coin production.

Traditional Qing cash coins were generally cast rather than individually handwritten or engraved after production.

The letters were incorporated into the coin design through the casting process.

Consequently, Manchu inscriptions on coins may appear simplified, thickened, or stylized.

However, these forms should not automatically be classified as Manchu seal script.

The two categories share an interest in adapting Manchu writing to physical objects, but their historical functions and production methods differ.

For accurate analysis, researchers should distinguish ordinary Manchu orthography, coin inscription styles, and formal Manchu seal-script traditions.

13. Were Manchu Inscriptions on Coins Intended for Ordinary People to Read?

Not necessarily.

A coin could circulate successfully even if many users could not read every inscription.

Throughout history, people have used coins identified by their size, material, denomination, and familiar visual appearance.

During the Qing dynasty, Chinese was widely used throughout much of the empire.

Manchu was not universally spoken or read by the population.

Therefore, the presence of Manchu on a coin does not mean that everyone using the coin was expected to understand it.

The inscriptions also served institutional purposes.

They identified minting authorities and reflected official conventions.

The coin's practical function as money did not depend on every user being able to translate the reverse inscription.

This is an important reminder that writing on currency can serve purposes beyond communicating directly with ordinary users.

It may also represent government authority, institutional identity, or administrative classification.

14. Did Manchu Writing on Coins Help Prevent Counterfeiting?

The mint inscription could provide identifying information, but it should not be treated as a complete anti-counterfeiting system.

Traditional cast cash coins were relatively simple objects compared with modern banknotes and machine-struck currency.

Counterfeit and privately cast coins existed during different periods of Chinese monetary history, including the Qing dynasty.

An official mint inscription could help identify the intended issuing authority.

However, copying a mint inscription was not necessarily difficult.

A counterfeit coin could reproduce both the Chinese reign inscription and the Manchu mint name.

Therefore, authenticity cannot be established merely because a coin contains plausible Manchu writing.

Researchers and collectors must examine other features, including casting quality, dimensions, weight, metal composition, calligraphic style, and documented varieties.

The Manchu inscription is one piece of evidence, not a guarantee of authenticity.

15. Can Manchu Writing Help Identify the Origin of a Qing Coin?

Yes.

This is one of its most practical uses in numismatics.

If the reverse inscription can be read correctly, it may identify the mint associated with the coin.

For example, a coin bearing Boo Ciowan points to the Board of Revenue mint.

A coin bearing Boo Yuwan points to the Board of Works mint.

Other designations may indicate provincial minting institutions.

However, the inscription identifies the authority or mint designation represented on the coin, not necessarily an independently verified physical production site in every individual case.

For common official issues, the mint mark is strong identifying evidence.

For unusual varieties, suspected counterfeits, or later reproductions, additional examination is necessary.

The mint inscription can also help distinguish varieties that otherwise share the same Chinese reign title.

This makes Manchu literacy particularly useful for collectors of Qing cash coins.

16. How Can Beginners Learn to Read Manchu Mint Marks?

The most effective approach is to begin with a small number of common inscriptions.

Rather than attempting to memorize every historical mint name, beginners can first learn to recognize the word boo and the most frequently encountered mint designations.

A practical sequence is:

Step 1: Identify the obverse.

Locate the four Chinese characters around the square hole.

Determine the reign title.

Step 2: Examine the reverse.

Look for vertical Manchu inscriptions, often arranged on opposite sides of the hole.

Step 3: Recognize common mint names.

Begin with Boo Ciowan and Boo Yuwan.

Step 4: Compare with reliable references.

Use clear photographs and documented coin varieties.

Step 5: Record the complete coin.

Note the obverse inscription, reverse inscription, diameter, weight, and visible casting characteristics.

Step 6: Avoid guessing unclear letters.

Worn or poorly cast inscriptions may be difficult to identify accurately.

A damaged coin should not be assigned a specific mint solely because its inscription resembles a familiar example.

This method combines basic Manchu reading skills with numismatic observation.

17. What Is the Historical Value of Manchu Inscriptions on Qing Coins?

Manchu coin inscriptions are valuable for several fields of historical research.

Monetary history

They help identify minting institutions and distinguish different issues of Qing cash coins.

Administrative history

They preserve names associated with central and provincial government mints.

Linguistic history

They provide examples of Manchu institutional terminology and historical transliteration conventions.

Material culture

They show how an alphabetic writing system was adapted to the design of small cast-metal objects.

Economic history

When studied together with archival records and archaeological evidence, coins can contribute to research on currency production, circulation, and regional monetary practices.

History of writing

They demonstrate that Manchu appeared not only in manuscripts and imperial documents but also on objects used in everyday economic life.

However, coins should not be interpreted in isolation.

A mint inscription alone cannot establish the total output of a mint, the geographic circulation of a coin, or the economic conditions of an entire region.

Such conclusions require additional documentary, archaeological, and statistical evidence.

18. Why Do Qing Dynasty Coins Have Manchu Writing?

Returning to the original question:

Manchu appeared on many Qing dynasty coins because it was an important official language of the Qing state, and the inscriptions often served to identify the government mint responsible for issuing the coin.

The Chinese inscription on the front commonly recorded the imperial reign title.

The Manchu inscription on the reverse commonly recorded the mint designation.

These two elements performed different but complementary functions.

The use of Manchu reflected the Qing dynasty's administrative traditions and the continued importance of Manchu writing within official institutions.

At the same time, not all Qing coins contained Manchu, and coin designs changed throughout the dynasty.

For historians, these inscriptions preserve evidence of Qing monetary administration.

For linguists, they provide examples of Manchu words and historical institutional names.

For collectors, they offer practical information for identifying mints and distinguishing coin varieties.

For the general public, they reveal something easily overlooked: Manchu writing was not confined to imperial palaces, government documents, or scholarly books.

It also appeared on objects that circulated through markets, shops, households, and commercial networks.

A small Qing cash coin can therefore tell a much larger story about language, government authority, and everyday economic life in the Qing empire.

— MING YE

References and Research Materials

• Da Qing Huidian (大清会典, Collected Statutes of the Great Qing). An important primary source for Qing government institutions, fiscal administration, and official regulations.

• Da Qing Huidian Shili (大清会典事例, Precedents and Regulations of the Great Qing). Historical materials concerning the implementation of Qing administrative and monetary regulations.

• Qing Shilu (清实录, Veritable Records of the Qing Dynasty). Important historical records concerning Qing government policy, minting administration, and monetary affairs.

• Qianlu (钱录), compiled by Liang Shizheng and others during the Qianlong period. A Qing-era work relevant to the study and classification of historical coinage.

• Hartill, David. Cast Chinese Coins (2005). A widely used numismatic reference covering Chinese cast coinage, including Qing cash coins and mint marks.

• Schjöth, Fredrik. Chinese Currency: Currency of the Far East (1929). A historical numismatic reference containing classifications of Chinese coinage.

• Gertraude Roth Li, Manchu: A Textbook for Reading Documents (2000). A reference for Manchu writing, orthography, and historical document reading.

• Jerry Norman, A Comprehensive Manchu-English Dictionary (2013). A major reference for Manchu vocabulary, Romanization, and historical terminology.

• The Palace Museum, Beijing. Collection records and research materials concerning Qing dynasty currency, official objects, and Manchu inscriptions.