Qing Dyn Sichuan 10 tael Drum Shaped Sycee (Salt Tax) - RARE

Description

Qing Dyn Sichuan 10 tael Drum Shaped Sycee (Salt Tax) - RARE
Inscriptions:
仁邊商
/Ren Bian Trader
,
永隆裕
/Yong Long Yu
.
Weight: 358.2g
"Ren Bian Trader" is an abbreviated phrase, Ren represents Ren huai
(
仁懷
)
of Gui zhou province and Bian stands for Bian Ports
(
邊岸
)
which is an older terminology that was used to describe a number of locations where salt distribution and trade
(monopolized by a few officially appointed salt traders) took place between Sichuan and its neighbour provinces Guizhou and Yunnan, and lastly "Trader"
is a simplified word for aforementioned salt traders
(
鹽商
)
.
Sichuan province, being a major salt producing region responsible for supplying salt to several
neighboring
provinces, had some of the most sophisticated salt laws in China. The quantity of salt to be sold to any particular region within or outside the province would have to be limited to certain amount based on the local population in order to control market supply. All salt traders were officially appointed and were only allowed to sell at certain authorized places called
引岸
or salt ports (usually a trading hub by the river), in other words each trader's business was strictly bound to a small number of salt ports regardless whether he could earn a profit, interestingly this is often reflected in the sycee specimens, many salt tax silver carry the inscription of the name of the salt port
, usually followed by the name of the salt trader who was responsible for making the
tax payment to the provincial government for his salt trade took place at that particular salt port. The above item is one of those specimens, it was cast
as salt tax payment by salt trader
Yong Long Yu firm, who was known as one of the four major salt traders (
in addition:
協興隆/
Xie Xing Long
,
義盛隆/
Yi Sheng Long
,
永隆裕
/
Yong Long
Yu
,
永發祥/
Yong Fa Xiang
) officially authorized to trade salt from Sichuan to Guizhou exclusively via the Ren Bian salt port. Specimens of this type are almost always undated, even though being undated they are well-documented specimens, most likely cast during the Kuang Hsu period (1875 - 1908). Salt tax sycees are rare regardless of the types and regions.
This piece comes with nice original toning and is in perfect overall condition with very beautiful shape and exceptionally clear inscriptions on both stamps, pretty much the best condition one can expect for this rare type of sycee.
Keep in mind that MOST sycees being offered on eBay are counterfeits.
All my items are Life-Time Genuine Guaranteed.
If you have questions in regard to sycee of any kind, feel free to let me know.
Payment & Shipping
Direct Bank Deposit is accepted for Australian buyers
.
Australian domestic Postage: .00 for Registered Mail.
International postage: .00 for Express Courier International (tracking + signature, delivery in 4-6 business days). Extra post coverage is available upon request.
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