Henry Aisin Gioro Pu Yi Qing Dynasty. Xuantong 1908-1911 Although not ancient, this coin marked the end of China's Dynastic tradition after 5000 years. The last emperor to issue this Chinese cash coinage which the design lasted unchanged for 2 millenia. The Xuantong Emperor inherited the throne at a very young age upon the death of his uncle Emperor Guangxu and the true power to the throne Empress Dowager Cixi. He inherited a throne that was reaching the end of Qing Dynasty, rife with corruption and greatly weakened by western and Japanese imperial pressures. Forced to abdicate by the Nationalist party under Sun Yat-Sen and Yuan Shikai, the Xuantong Emperor reigned for only 3 years making him as the shortest reigning Emperor of the Qing Dynasty. Upon abdication, he was briefly reinstated as the puppet emperor of the Japanese controlled Machukuo Empire covering northeastern China during the 2nd world war. Upon the defeat of the Japanese and victory of the Communists, he was at one time persecuted as a traitor but was subsequently rehabilitated and ended his retirement as a gardener. Western audiences may be familiar with thr Oscar-winning film "The Last Emperor" which depicted his life story. The coinage during his reign was complex. Together with cash coinage, machine struck western coinage was also issued. Not rare in any means, his cash coinage circulated widely but much scarcer compared to the other Qing Emperors. Oddly, his abdication did not see an immediate end of the ancient Chinese coinage design. That honour lies with the Min Guo Tong Bao and Fujian Tong Bao issued during the early yearsof the Republic.
"The last emperor to issue this Chinese cash coinage which the design lasted unchanged for 2 millenia"... If it ain't broke, don't fix it...
