1820–1850 China & Great Britain Coins of the Opium War 2-pc Set

The Very First War On Drugs

This remarkable collection showing the cultural differences between the British and the Chinese, includes copper and brass coins issued by the Emperor of China and the British East India Company that were in circulation during the Opium War. Opium addiction was a huge problem for the Chinese from the late 1830s all the way up to the 1940s, a dismal era referred to as the “Century of Humiliation”—a term used to describe the period of intervention and subjugation of the Q’ing Dynasty and the Republic of China by Western powers and Japan.

The War That Led To Great Britain’s Possession Of Hong Kong

This two-piece set features an East India Company Copper Half-Anna Coin and a Chinese Brass Cash Coin that were struck between 1820 and 1850—a period of time that encompassed the First Opium War (1839–1842) fought between China and Great Britain. The war was brought on by Great Britain’s illegal importing of opium into China from India, causing widespread addiction. The war ended in a British victory and led to the Treaty of Nanjing, which ceded Hong Kong to Great Britian.

• The Copper Half Anna Coin features the British East India Company’s Coat of Arms: two lions supporting a crest that is adorned with the Cross of Saint George. A ribbon below the design displays the motto “AUSP: REG: & SEN: ANG:” which in Latin means “Auspicio Regis et Senatus Angliæ” or “By the Command of the King and Parliament of England” in English. The coin’s reverse displays the coin’s denomination within a wreath, and the legend EAST INDIA COMPANY across the top. The British East India Company was a private trading company founded in 1600 to trade in the Indian Ocean region. It was dissolved in 1874 after the British government nationalized the company and took control of its Indian possessions, administrative powers & machinery, and armed forces.
• The Chinese Brass Cash Coin in this set was struck under the auspices of the Q’ing Dynasty that ruled China from 1636 to 1911. In Ancient China, it was believed that heaven was round while the earth was square. This was one of the reasons that the famous Cash Coins of China display a square hole in the center. The other reason was that the hole made it easy to string several coins together. These coins are so instantly recognizable, the Smithsonian® features a “tree” of them at the very center of its Gallery of Numismatics! Despite the progression of 20 centuries, Chinese coins maintained this same basic form and this one features Chinese characters specific to the ruling Q’ing Dynasty.

A Beautiful Set Culled From The Opium Wars

This 1820–1850 China & Great Britain Coins of the Opium War Two-Piece Set will come beautifully displayed in a wooden presentation box and accompanied by a fact-filled story card about the Opium War in China. Act now!