清代銀幣、紙鈔、銅幣並行，至嘉慶年間發行新式銀元，而光緒年間鑄行金、銀幣更多。洋務運動也影響到鑄幣業，兩廣總督張之洞曾於光緒十三年（1887年）委託使英大臣在英國訂購全套造幣機器，並在廣東錢局首鑄機制銀元和銅元。其後，各省紛紛仿效，購制國外機械鑄造銀、銅元。包括廣東錢局在內，許多造幣機均訂購自著名的英國倫敦伯明罕造幣有限公司。英國大工業的介入，使銀幣也沾染上西方色彩。錢幣正面鮮然可見滿漢文化的融合，而錢背卻明確標示了西方文化的介入。
In the Qing Dynasty, silver, paper and copper coins were in parallel, and new silver coins were issued between Jiaqing and Guangxu. The westernization movement also affected the coinage industry. Zhang Zhidong, the governor of Guangdong and Guangxi, commissioned the British minister to order a complete set of coinage machines in Britain in 1887, and made the first silver and copper coins in Guangdong money Bureau. Later, the provinces followed suit, purchasing and manufacturing foreign mechanical casting silver and copper dollars. Many mints, including the Guangdong money Bureau, were ordered from the famous Birmingham minting company in London. The intervention of British big industry made silver coins also tainted with western color. The integration of Manchu and Han culture is rarely seen on the front of coins, while the back of coins clearly indicates the involvement of western culture.
「光緒元寶」當時共十九個省局鑄造。除中央戶部，地方省所鑄銅元，皆在其正面上緣鐫寫省名。計有：1戶部；2北洋；3吉林；4奉天；5清江；6浙江；7江南；8廣東；9山東；10福建；11湖南；12湖北；13四川；14江西；15河南；16安徽；17廣西；18新疆；19黑龍江。而作為最先鑄造光緒元寶系列的廣東省，其錢幣工藝較與他省來說，更為完善。因廣東乃沿海地區，且是與外國接觸最多的地域，而光緒元寶是仿當時香港錢幣而鑄，很多工藝方面，廣東是最快最新得到其改進方法。也是因此，在近幾年來，廣東省造的光緒元寶在收藏市場上非常受大眾喜愛，為其一擲千金也不為過。
"Guangxu Yuanbao" was cast by 19 provincial bureaus at that time. In addition to the central household department, the copper yuan cast by the local province is engraved with the provincial name on the upper edge of its front. There are: 1 household; 2 Beiyang; 3 Jilin; 4 Fengtian; 5 Qingjiang; 6 Zhejiang; 7 Jiangnan; 8 Guangdong; 9 Shandong; 10 Fujian; 11 Hunan; 12 Hubei; 13 Sichuan; 14 Jiangxi; 15 Henan; 16 Anhui; 17 Guangxi; 18 Xinjiang; 19 Heilongjiang. As the first to cast Guangxu Yuanbao Series in Guangdong Province, its coin technology is more perfect than other provinces. Because Guangdong is a coastal area, and it has the most contact with foreign countries. Guangxu Yuanbao was forged by imitating Hong Kong coins at that time. In many aspects of technology, Guangdong is the fastest and latest way to improve it. Therefore, in recent years, Guangxu Yuanbao made in Guangdong Province is very popular in the collection market, and it's not too expensive.
中國的錢幣是中華民族五千年燦爛文明的重要載體和歷史進程的實物見證。從最早的商代銅貝到最後的民國通寶，延續發展三千多年，期間源遠流長而未曾間斷，內涵豐富而博大精深，堪稱世界貨幣歷史的奇蹟。
China's currency is an important carrier of the five thousand year splendid civilization of the Chinese nation and a physical witness of the historical process. From the earliest bronze shell of the Shang Dynasty to the last Tongbao of the Republic of China, it has been developing for more than 3000 years. During this period, it has a long history and has rich and profound connotation. It can be called a miracle in the history of world currency.
廣東省造光堵元寶銅圓由位於廣州的廣東錢局負責生產，該局由時任兩廠總督張之洞創辦。張之洞於光堵十三年（1887年）奏請在廣東創力錢局，購買機器，得到清政府批准後於同年四月向英國喜敦廠訂購機器，在廣州大東門外黃花塘建造廠房。錢局於光堵十五年（1889年）二月竣工，其廠房仿造英國造幣廠設計，布局似「回」字形，銀廠居中，錢廠環繞四周。
The Guandong money Bureau in Guangzhou, which was founded by Zhang Zhidong, the governor of the two factories at that time, is responsible for the production of Tongyuan. In 1887, Zhang Zhidong asked Chuangli money Bureau of Guangdong Province to purchase machines. After getting the approval of the Qing government, he ordered machines from the UK's Hedon factory in April of the same year and built a factory in huanghuatang, outside Dadongmen, Guangzhou. The money office was completed in February 1889. Its factory building imitated the design of the British mint, with the layout of "back" shape. The silver factory is in the middle and surrounded by the money factory.
錢局設立後，為便於生產和管理，制定有錢廠、銀廠章程。廣東錢局於光堵十五年（1889年）四月二十六日開爐鼓鑄制錢，光堵二十六年（1900年）開始鑄造銅圓，光堵三十二年（1906年）不再鑄造當十銅圓，改鑄以天干地支紀年的大清銅幣《廣東試鑄銅元全案》一文對廣東始鑄銅元的情況有如下說明 「擬試造銅圓宜分三等，以便民用，輕重大小均與外洋運來通商口岸行使者相類，惟龍紋宇樣則不同，第一等每個廣東庫平重四錢，每七錢二分重大銀圓換五十枚，二等重二錢換一百枚，三等重錢換二百枚。廣東銅元的生產，採用衝壓工藝，其流程大體可以分為鋼材熔煉、軋片、衝壓坯餅、滾邊、烘洗、印花等六個基本工序。
After the establishment of the money Bureau, in order to facilitate production and management, the articles of association of the rich and the silver factories were formulated. In April 26, 1889, Guangdong money bureau started to make coins by drum casting. In 1900, Guangdong money bureau began to make copper circles. In 1906, Guangdong money Bureau stopped to make ten copper circles. The article "the whole case of Guangdong trial casting copper yuan" which was based on the era of tiangan and dizhi stated that "the trial casting of copper yuan in Guangdong should be divided into three grades, For civilian use, the weight and size are similar to those of envoys from foreign countries who come to the ports of Commerce, but the dragon pattern is different. The first-class Guangdong warehouse weighs four yuan, 50 pieces for every seven yuan and two Fen of major silver, 100 pieces for second-class and two money, and 200 pieces for third-class. The production process of Guangdong Tongyuan can be divided into six basic processes, i.e. steel melting, sheet rolling, blank pressing, rolling, drying and printing.
專家評語：此廣東省造光緒元寶銅元，正面中央珠圈內鐫「光緒元寶」四個字，上環為「廣東省造」，下方是幣值「每元當制錢十文」，中間為滿文「寶廣」；背面中心是騰龍圖，騰龍紋路清晰，惟妙惟肖，眼睛炯炯有神，栩栩如生，形似騰躍之際，身姿遒勁有力，龍爪張揚，龍身盤踞太陽，並有雲海襯托，煜煜生輝，盡顯皇家威風大氣。銅幣鑄字清晰，圖案表面均依勢圓潤凸起、錯落有致，包漿醇厚，流通痕跡自然，整體美觀大方，品相精細，質地精良，具有極高的觀賞價值，收藏價值。
Expert comment: the four words "Guangxu Yuanbao" are engraved in the central pearl circle on the front. The upper circle is "made in Guangdong Province", the lower part is the currency value of "ten yuan for making money", the middle part is "Baoguang" in Manchu. The back center is the picture of Tenglong, with clear lines, lifelike eyes, lifelike shape and powerful posture The dragon's claws are publicized. The dragon's body sits in the sun and is set off by the sea of clouds. It is full of Royal prestige. The copper coins have clear lettering, round and protruding pattern surface, well-organized, thick coating, natural circulation trace, beautiful and generous overall, fine quality and fine texture, with high ornamental value and collection value.
此光緒元寶版面設計優雅，雕刻精良，而且存世量極為稀少，是錢幣收藏世界，知名度極大的一種，被譽為錢幣精品，具有無法估量的學術與歷史價值。近年來，中國的收藏界風起雲湧，很多藏品大幅升值，而其中升值最快的、升值幅度最大的品種之一便是錢幣，而古錢幣收藏大軍也不斷壯大。有業內人員認為，古錢幣市場已經紅火了十幾年，未來總的趨勢是不會發生變化的。
This Guangxu Yuanbao has elegant layout, excellent carving and rare existence. It is a well-known coin collection in the world. It is known as a fine coin collection with incalculable academic and historical value. In recent years, China's collection industry has been surging, and many collections have appreciated greatly. Among them, one of the varieties with the fastest appreciation and the largest appreciation is coins, and the collection army of ancient coins has been growing. Some insiders believe that the ancient money market has been booming for more than ten years, and the general trend in the future will not change.