(1904)三十 Tael LM-180 K-933 Sml Chars MS(PCGS#115698)

September 2021 Hong Kong Coins Auction

拍卖行

Stack's Bowers

批号

22165

等级

MS63

价格

1,392,473

详细说明

Attractive Hupeh Small Character Tael CHINA. Hupeh. Tael, Year 30 (1904). PCGS MS-63. L&M-180; K-933; KM-Y-128.2; WS-0878. Small Characters variety. A nicely preserved survivor of the short-lived Hupeh Tael that exhibits bold well-formed devices, satiny luster and the beginning stages of die degradation on the reverse offering interesting characteristics. A thin veneer of patina with areas of richer coloration add to its originality and pleasing appearance. Originally 648,000 Hupeh Taels were minted, this includes both large and small character types; however, it is unknown exactly how many of each were struck. The Hupeh Tael was introduced as part of a projected coinage reform based on the traditional Chinese weight standard, rather than the Dollar system. In the initial proposal to produce these coins, it was also suggested to produce smaller denominations in the values of 1, 2, and 5 Mace. However, no such pieces have surfaced (even in pattern form) and it is unlikely they were ever produced. The general populace found it complicated in converting two distinctly different coinage system. A Hupeh Tael housed in the British museum supports this by showing evidence of cutting to make change. The British museum specimen is essentially mint state with a large pie shape section cut from the coin. The cut is in a similar manner to the "broken dollars" picture on pg. 121 figure 4.10 of Joe Cribb's reference Money in the Bank. This short lived series circulated for only a brief period and was soon after replaced by the unified Tai Ching Ti Kuo silver coinage. Although the Hupeh Tael coinage has a fairly large mintage, most were likely melted down to be made into later coinage. It is interesting to note that the Hupeh Taels were struck in 0.877 fine silver, as opposed to the 0.960 fine silver set forth by the currency regulations of 1905. Well struck and fully lustrous, overall an excellent example of an immensely popular type that is sure to draw a great deal of bidder interest. Estimate: $60,000 - $80,000. Provenance: From the Hobart Collection. Click here for certification details from PCGS. Image with the PCGS TrueView logo is obtained from and is subject to a license agreement with Collectors Universe, Inc. and its divisions PCGS and PSA. Click here to see Coins in Motion.[“Coins] 誘人湖北雙龍壹兩小字版 光緒三十年湖北省造大清銀幣庫平壹兩銀幣。 小字版。湖北一兩流通時間短。此枚保存狀態優秀，圖文飽滿深峻，綢緞光澤，反面可見初步模具降解，更添特色。有薄包漿，局部色澤更深，原汁原味，觀之極美。 包括大小字兩種的湖北一兩製作額僅 648,000 枚，兩版各自的數量不明，但大字版非常的稀少。湖北一兩是按照中國傳統計重單位的銀兩制度進行，而非以圓為單位。原來計劃中亦打算生產有五錢、二錢及一錢等面值。然而該批錢幣並未面世，就連連樣幣形式也不得見，應是從來未曾投入製作。在實際使用時，民眾發現兩種制度間的兌換十分複雜，尤其是在找零錢的時候。大英博物館藏有一枚經過切割的湖北一兩，是用來找零的證據。該枚基本上是未流通狀態，被切割一大部份形式如同克力布所著的《匯豐銀行錢幣集藏》第141頁、圖4.10。湖北一兩流通的時間很短，隨即退出流通。雖然湖北一兩的製額頗多，大多數被回爐溶化改成其他錢幣。有趣的是湖北一兩成色是0.877，與1905年(光緒三十一年)制定一兩銀幣章程時的含銀0.960不符。鑄打深峻，光澤充沛，整體品相優秀的熱捧版，定能吸引諸多藏家參與競投。