明清时期银钱比价初探

本文考察了明清时期(1368-1911)白银和铜钱这两种金属货币的比价变动情况及其主要原因。笔者认为明清时期白银和铜钱的比价一直是变动不居的,而中后期银钱比价波动尤为剧烈。从总体来看,明清时期一两白银所能兑换的铜钱数有不断上升的趋势。白银和铜钱的数量及其本身的价值、海外贸易以及当时的政治、经济等因素在不同程度上影响了银钱比价。市场上劣质铜钱的大量涌现则是导致银钱比价剧烈变动的最主要原因。

Analysis on the Exchange Rate between Silver and Copper Coins during the Ming & Qing Dynasties

This paper explores the fluctuation and its major causes in the exchanging rate between two metallic urrencies---silver and copper coin during the Ming & Qing Dynasties(1368-1911). The paper reveals that the exchanging rate vibrated during the last period of the time. Silver became more and more expensive to copper coins. The causes of the fluctuation were due to the variation of the quantity and value of the two currencies themselves,overseas trading,the contemporary political situation, economic conditions and the flooding of bad-quality coppers to markets.