Von der Materialanalyse zur Provenienzrecherche – Eine Fallstudie mit Ming-zeitlichen Banknoten aus der Sammlung der Deutschen Bundesbank

Paper money of the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644) represents one of the earliest preserved examples of government-issued banknotes found in international collections. However, poorly documented acquisition histories often raise questions about their authenticity. To date, only a few scientific studies have enabled material-based categorization and systematic provenance research on Ming banknotes in international collections is still lacking. References to a connection with the Boxer Uprising remain largely anecdotal.

This study aims to draw significant conclusions about the origin and authenticity of these banknotes through scientific material analysis. In this context, three banknotes from the Deutsche Bundesbank, previously attributed to the Ming Dynasty, were examined. The analyses provide a foundation for further investigating provenance and historical background. The lecture thus combines scientific and historical approaches to fully exploit the informational potential of these historical objects.