Chinese characters Da Zhong Tong Bao /Beiping Shi (“Beijing, 10 (cash)”). 45mm, 19.16 grams. Hartill 20.49. SKU XL1-63421

Rare and interesting late issue. In 1368, Ming armies headed north to attack territories that were still under Yuan rule. Toghon Temür (Emperor Shun of Yuan) gave up his capital, Beijing, and the rest of northern China in September 1368 and retreated to the Mongolian Plateau. Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang adopted the period title Hongwu some 9 months earlier (in January 1368), so the production of these coins was always difficult to explain. It is commonly thought that these lighter coins were cast early in the Hongwu reign period (late 1360’s-early 1370’s). The old title Da Zhong was retroactively used for an unknown reason.

Unconditionally guaranteed to be authentic.