200 Cash Suzhou, Kiangsu

200 Cash (Suzhou, Kiangsu) - obverse200 Cash (Suzhou, Kiangsu) - reverse

© Outsider

Features

Location Empire of China
Emperor Qing dynasty › Guangxu (光緒帝) (1875-1908)
Type Trade tokens › Local administration token
Year 1895
Value 200 Cash
Currency Cash (621-1912)
Composition Wood (bamboo)
Weight 4.15 g
Size 91 mm
Thickness 6 mm
Shape Rectangular (irregular)
Orientation Medal alignment ↑↑
Demonetized Yes
Number
N#
302334

Obverse

Date, serial number; name of bank at bottom.

Lettering:
未乙
光山庄

Translation:
Wood Sheep (1895)
Guang Shan Bank

Reverse

Value; "Shing hou" at bottom means "company mark" or "warranty", guaranteeing the value of the tally.

Lettering:
文十串錢貳仟文
信号

Translation:
Value 200 cash equals 20 ten cash coins.
"Company mark"

Edge

Warning that the value is lost if the tally is lost or destroyed.

Lettering: 失去不卜

Translation: Not redeemable if lost.

200 Cash (Suzhou, Kiangsu) -  obverse

© Outsider

Comments

Seal mark on other edge.



Bamboo tallies were issued by banks and redeemable for cash coins. The tallies were created by skilled craftsmen and carried serial numbers, making forgery difficult, and their light weight made them attractive for merchants and others who needed to carry large amounts of money, as cash coins became very heavy in quantity. Their function was extremely similar to paper banknotes.

An incentive for banks to issue them was that they were explicitly payable in ten-cash coins rather than one-cash coins; a single ten-cash contained less metal than 10 one-cash, hence the bank was able to make a profit in terms of metal weight.

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Date VG F VF XF AU UNC
1895 

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Numista Rarity index: 93 Search tips
This index is based on the data of Numista members collections. It ranges from 0 to 100, 0 meaning a very common coin or banknote and 100 meaning a rare coin or banknote among Numista members.

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