Double-Stamp Silver Ingots of Yunnan

Stephen Tai
Feb.20, 1998

Inscriptions: Mong Hua District, Silversmith Ju Chai.
Dimension: 51(L) x 47(W) x 23(H)mm
Weight: 380g (10 taels)
Inscriptions: White Salt Well District, Silversmith Li Han Wan.
Dimension: 49(L) x 46(W) x 15(H)mm
Weight: 278g (8 taels)
Inscriptions: Dong Tai Bank, Tax Silver
Dimension: 41(L) x 54(W) x 17(H)mm
Weight: 242g (7 taels)
Inscriptions: Si You Bank, Tax Silver
Dimension: 33(L) x 40(W) x 14(H)mm
Weight: 151g (4 taels)

The Double-Stamp was a kind of silver currency circulated in very early stage of Ching Dynasty, and so were the Single-Stamp and the Triple-Stamp. Ma Duang Lin, a Central Government’s official in the 9^th year of Chien Lung (1744, 1736-1795) reported:
A kind of silver currency called Si Chao (Si means Stone, Chao means Groove, altogether may be interpreted as Groovy Silver refined from the local mineral stones) was popular in Yunnan. Such Si Chao silver, includes any groovy silver in square or rectangular bases circulated then in the province, namely, the Double-Stamp and the other two kinds of silver ingots were included.
As we have found, the Double-Stamp are much fewer than the other two kinds of silver ingots, and most of them were cast in years no later than Hsien Feng period (1851-1861), in some western areas of Yunnan (#1, #2). However, some casted in other places may also be found (#3, #4).
Normally, the Double-Stamp weighed from about 5 to 10 taels (approximately from180 to 400g), the average weight is greater than the other two kinds.
Most of the Double-Stamp currently found, are tax silver, and as then government’s requested, they should be in the finest purity. In such case, The Double Stamp should have higher purity and value than the other two kinds.
#1, #2 both were cast in the areas of the western Yunnan, at the time, # 1, could be in Dao Kuang period (1821-1850), and # 2 is around Hsien Feng or Tong Zhi period (1851-1874). The two’s features have clearly reflected their regional characteristics.
#3, #4 both came from Kunmin or its neighboring areas, their casting time are no earlier than Tong Zhi period (1862-1874), and their features are not only different from each other, but also different from the western areas.

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