Lot 835

Borneo (Kalimantan), He-shun gongsi Federation (1776-1854) in the Montrado region. Large tin/lead local Gongsi cash (42.53 g.; 44 mm.), produced between 1780 - 1808 and circulated until 1819. Obv.: He Shun Gong Si, Chinese countermarks on the rim, representing the 14 different Gongsis / rev.: corrupt Manchu inscription. In 1776 the 14 mining 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. Some members of the Keng-wei and Xin-wu gongsis migrated eastwards to Tajan and northwards to Sarawak, respectively – (ZENO 255775) - Extremely Rare, gVF