China, 1903-1906 AD., Ch'ing Dynasty, emperor Te Tsung, Kiangsu (Chingkiang) province, 10 Cash, KM 49.

China, Ch'ing dynasty, emperor Te Tsung (De Zong), Guang Xu (Kuang Hsü) Reign (1875-1908), Kiangsu (Chingkiang) province, mint, no date (1903-06 AD.),
10 Cash (28 mm / 7,84 g), copper,
Obv.: rosette in the center of the coin; around Chinese inscription "guang xu yuan bao" (or "Kuang Hsu Yuan Pao") (光 绪 元 宝) reading from top to bottom and right to left. In upper outer circle, Chinese characters "minted in Chekiang Province" (Chekiang Province: 浙江省 ); two Manchu charactersat sides: right: Manchu "CHE" or "Je" = Chekiang Province, left: Manchu "Boo" = coin.
Rev.: no legends, the emblem of a flaming dragon flying, clutching the pearl of celestial wisdom.
KM 49 ; Y 1 .

The front view dragon was introduced about 1902, this type of dragon was not used by many mints. The dragon is usually uncircled and has few clouds around its body.

During the later Qing dynasty, the coinage of the ancient copper coins had been suspended in most of the provinces in China. The Mint masters found that they could not cast the tranditional cash coins economically, they stopped casting and engaged in another kind of circular coin struck by machinery without a square hole in the centre. It was known as "T'ung Yuan" [copper coin], or "T'ung Hsien" [copper cent] and or "Tung Pan" [copper plate] Each one is equivalent to ten cash. Later, there were also denominations of 1, 2, 5, 20, and 30 cash. Tai-Ching-Ti-Kuo means Great Ching Empire, Ching being the emperor.

One of the biggest challenges facing anyone visiting China or attempting to understand Chinese history is the various names that refer to the same emperor.
Many Chinese people, official sources and plaques at historic sites, refer to dates by year of the period in which an emperor reigned. This means that foreigners are often confused as they do not carry around dynastic dates tables in their heads.
Matters are further complicated by the fact that emperors are known by a number of different names.
Take the Qing Dynasty of the Manchu emperors who ruled China from 1644 to 1911. Not to be confused with the Qin dynasty, of the first emperor and his terracotta warriors who ruled from 221 BC to 206BC.
The Qing Dynasty was actually founded in 1616 and at first it was known as the Later Jin. The title was changed to Qing in 1644.

As an example of the naming of emperors take the man who ruled from 1875 to 1908.
His family name, like that of all the Qing Emperors, was Aisin Gioro. His personal name was Aisin Gioro Zaitian. However, use of this name was taboo and it was never spoken. A title would be selected for the reign of each emperor, and, in this case, the name chosen was Guanxu. This was used, particularly by foreigners, as if it was his personal name. In China, during his reign he would normally be referred to simply as “His Majesty The Emperor.”
After an emperor died, however, he would be given a name which would be used for ancestral worship rites. The name selected for this emperor was De Zong. Educated Chinese would never use anything other than De Zong in referring to him, with use of Guangxu being regarded as vulgar.

Few foreigners find it easy to cope with all this and many are mystified as they visit the historic sites of China and attempt to understand explanations and signs.