Lot 890

Borneo, He Shun Gong Si. Large lead-tin cash (42.44 g.). Obv: “He Shun gongsi”, surrounded by fourteen Chinese characters which according to Schaank refer to the 14 gongsis of the He-shun federation //rev: corrupt Manchu inscription. Its sole mention in numismatic literature is found in Schaank's description in the Minutes of a Batavian Society for Arts and Sciences (BSAS) meeting on February 4, 1896 [NBG 34, 1896, p.13, cited by Yih & de Kreek (NC 1993 p.183); ZENO 255775; Not listed by Millies or Netscher and van der Chijs. In 1776 the 14 mining gongsis around Montrado formed a federation known as He-shun. Around 1808 the He-shun federation originally consisting of 14 gongsis had dwindled to only seven members. Early in 1819 a quarrel arose between Da-gang and San-tiao-gou about the presidency of the He-shun federation, resulting in a withdrawal of the latter with its allies Shi-wu-fen and Tai-he. They settled north of the Selakau river, San-tiao-gou with its capital at Seminis and Shi-wu-fen at Loemar. The He-shun federation consisted thus of four gongsis. After the detection of a conspiracy of Keng-wei and Xin-wu together with San-tiao-gou against Da-gang, these He-shun gongsis were dissolved by Da-gang on 8 October 1837, leaving Da-gang now synonymous with He-shun in absolute power in Montrado until 1854. VF Very Rare RRR