Desert Eagle Suletan Khan

Chapter 239: Minting coins to connect the world

For a long time, Oirat Mongolia did not have its own currency. It mainly used Yarkand coins, and occasionally used various Tongbao from the Ming Dynasty and some gold and silver coins from Central Asia and Western Yi countries.

The Yarkand Kingdom's coinage technology is not considered to be superb. It is made using the traditional pressing method. It is made of red copper and is round and non-porous. It has extremely irregular thicknesses, sizes, and weights. It has many different shapes, rough and elegant patterns, and has a strong flavor. The tribal ethnic atmosphere of the Western Regions. The inscription on the front of the coin is a Shahada such as "Allah" in Chagatai script, or there are patterns or the name of the Khan. The back indicates the casting place "Zarpuyar Kante", which is where it was made by Yarkand.

Although the coinage technology is relatively crude, it is extremely advanced technology compared to the Oirat Mongolian Tribal Alliance and the small countries in the north and south of the Tianshan Mountains. Even the snowy plateau close to the Ming Dynasty lacked the ability to mint coins in this era, and what was always popular were inferior silver coins minted by Nibala (Nepal).

Money is a thing that flows through the world. Only by mastering the power of minting can we truly control the economic lifeline of the country. Sultan had long wanted to mint his own coins belonging to Oirat Mongolia, but due to lack of technology and sufficient territory and population, the matter was delayed.

After defeating Yarkand, he obtained Yarkand's coinage technology, and captured Kangrong and Uzang. With a wider area and sufficient population, the issue of coinage was put on the agenda.

He learned from the Ming Dynasty's disunity of minting power (both the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of Households had the right to mint money) and the chaotic currency system, and granted the minting power solely to the Baoyuan Bureau of the Ministry of Industry. The two cabinet ministers Batu Hetan and Xue Zongzhou were ordered to take charge of this matter and must mint coins with exquisite shapes that can be used to communicate with the world.

As the chief assistant, Batu Hetan had a lot of things to do, and his name was on it. Chief Xue Zong Zhou was mainly responsible for this matter. Academician Xue worked vigorously and resolutely. After receiving the order, he immediately organized a group of Yarkand craftsmen and recruited craftsmen from the Ming Dynasty. He even asked the Catholic Qintian Supervisor Li Tianjing and Deputy Supervisor Jin Nige to hire several Western Yi technician. After painstaking efforts, the sample was finally cast and presented to Emperor Qianyuan.

"Your Majesty, these are the Yarkand coins and Nibala state Zhanggar that were most widely circulated in Oirat before," Xue Zongzhou said, pointing to the coins presented.

Sultan took a look and saw that there were three types of Yarkand coins presented: the first one was thick and stupid, like a thick cake, with a pomegranate pattern printed on the front, and the inscription "Da Qian Wu Pu" engraved around the pattern. "Pu" in the Uighur language refers to copper coins; the second type is not that thick, like a pancake, and is engraved with "Da Qian San Pu"; the third type is more coke, cylindrical, shaped like a short section of chopsticks, and engraved With the words "One Pool" on it. These coins generally suffer from rough workmanship, unclear patterns, and irregular shapes. To sum it up in one word: ugly!

Looking at the few silver coins from the Nibala Kingdom, I couldn't see where they were. In the mid-16th century, Mahendra Malla of Kathmandu, Nepal, concluded a treaty with the local government of Uzang to mint silver coins for Uzang in exchange for silver from Uzang. Since then, the three Nepalese princely states of Badgang, Kathmandu and Patan have successively minted various silver coins for the Snowy Land and circulated them in the Snowy Land. Because Nepal calls silver coins "Zhanga", Xueyuan also uses this name in circulation. These silver coins are not only rough in style, but also white in color and yellowish in color. They are probably mixed with other metals.

"How can such a coin be worthy of my Kingdom of David?" Sultan said disdainfully.

"Your Majesty, these are five Qianyuan Tongbao, one gold coin, and one silver coin minted by the Baoyuan Bureau of the Ministry of Industry. There are seven styles in total: one coin (ten coins), two coins (twenty coins), five coins (five coins) Ten coins), ten coins (one hundred coins), one thousand coins (one thousand coins), one liang (one thousand coins), Shiliang (ten thousand coins). A gold coin is ten taels, which can be exchanged for ten silver coins; one The silver coins are one tael, which can be exchanged for copper coins. Please take a look at it," Xue Zongzhou said again.

"Oh, this is my David's coin? I want to take a closer look!" Suletan looked at the copper coins first, there were five types in total. There is a square hole inside the outer circle. The four characters "Qianyuan Tongbao" are cast on the front, and the currency value is printed on the back, one coin, two coins, five coins, ten coins, and one coin. No matter the front or the back, the calligraphy is exquisite and the caster is exquisite. Supplemented by floral patterns. There are lotus flowers, implying that Suletan is the reincarnation of Padmasambhava; there are swords, symbolizing Mongolia's illustrious martial arts; there are handsome horses, which are the favorites of the nomadic people; there are blue sky and white clouds, which are the great god Tengger; currency value The largest piece of money is printed with a fishing rod, and there is a baby fishing on the end of the rod. That is Yabugan Mergan, the ancestor of the Huite people. Looking at the twelve gold coins and the one-tael silver coins, they all have clear characters, exquisite patterns, and simple shapes.

beautiful! It's so beautiful! I don’t know how many times better than the Yarkand coins and Nibalazhanga coins!
Suletan was full of praise, and suddenly felt that the handwriting was a bit familiar, "Xue Qing, are the words on these coins written by you?"

Xue Zongzhou was a little embarrassed, "It's just my humble work!"

"Oh, Xue Qing is really a master of calligraphy. These coins are engraved with Qing's calligraphy. They are not only beautiful, but also difficult for counterfeiters to imitate!" Sultan praised Xue Zongzhou's calligraphy again.

He is right. Money inscriptions throughout the dynasties were all written by celebrities or great calligraphers. In addition to maintaining the beauty of the coins, they can also prevent counterfeiting. Everyone's handwriting is unique, especially those of great calligraphers. The different shapes of their brush strokes make it extremely difficult for forgers to imitate. In addition, methods to prevent counterfeit money in this era include monopolizing coin-making materials, such as gold, silver, and copper; adding a convex outline to the round periphery of the coin; and making the money text close to the square in the center. Kong, wait.

"My calligraphy skills are not as good as your Majesty's, so how dare you do anything for me?" Xue Zongzhou said modestly.

This flattery touched the heart of the great monk Padmasambhava. He thought that he was the best in the world in literary skills and martial arts, and his calligraphy was naturally excellent. In fact, some scholars who studied his calligraphy in later generations believed that his calligraphy was only above average, not as good as Xue Zongzhou!
"Well, Xue Qing, do you have the style of the Ming Dynasty coins? I want to compare them." Sultan suddenly wanted to see the Ming Dynasty coins.

Various treasures from the Ming Dynasty were served on the left and right. If you don’t compare, you don’t know. If you compare, you will be shocked. Coins really represent comprehensive national strength! During the Hongwu and Yongle periods, the Ming Dynasty was powerful and its money was printed beautifully. It was not only exquisite but also substantial in weight, especially the Yongle Tongbao, which Japan, Annan and other countries rushed to imitate. During the Xuande Tongbao, Hongzhi Tongbao, and Jiajing Tongbao periods, the Ming Dynasty's national power was still good and its money could be minted. In the Chongzhen Dynasty, due to financial difficulties, the money was thin. However, the craftsmanship is still lacking.

Suletan felt that his Qianyuan Tongbao was slightly inferior to Chongzhen Tongbao in terms of appearance, but it was better because of its genuine materials. Compared with Hongwu, Yongle, Xuande and other Tongbao, it was still insufficient. No problem, the craftsmanship is much better than the existing Yarkand copper coins and Nepali silver coins, and I believe it will be able to be circulated. Everything is difficult at the beginning, but the money will get better and better later.

"Xue Qing has worked hard. I am very satisfied with these coins. I will first cast 300,000 copper coins, 30,000 silver coins, and 10,000 gold coins." Emperor Qianyuan ordered the casting to begin. In order to prevent people from making coins privately and destroying the economic order of the Kingdom of David, he also issued a law, "Anyone who makes copper coins privately will be hanged, and the craftsmen will be guilty of the same crime. Those who are slaves and those who buy envoys with knowledge will each be reduced by one level. Those who accuse the arrest will be punished by the officer." Reward fifty taels of silver...",
This law is so harsh that not only those who make counterfeit money must be hanged, but also the craftsmen who make counterfeit money must be punished, and there are rewards for whistleblowers.

(End of this chapter)