(c.1900) (Tael) CCC-298 Arsenal Token Brass MS(PCGS#659281)

April 2018 Hong Kong World Coins Auction

拍卖行

Stack's Bowers

批号

40099

等级

SP53

价格

52,964

详细说明

CHINA. Chihli (Pei Yang Arsenal). Pattern Tael Trial Strike, ND (ca. 1899-1900). PCGS SP-53 Secure Holder. KM-Pn3; CCC-298; K-pg. 331-32; Duan-Unlisted; CL-Unlisted. Struck in brass with plain edge. EXTREMELY RARE. Proposed design for a Tael series based on the gold standard. The obverse inscription reads counterclockwise "Běiyáng jīqì jú" (Beiyang(Pei Yang) Machinery Bureau)) with the character "Kù" (Treasury), as in Kuping Tael, at center surrounded by beaded border. The reverse has the denomination inscribed as "Yī liǎng" (One Tael) flanked by two dragons. Around the turn of the 20th century it was observed that the value of copper and silver coins varied quite a bit from province to province and in some instances from within the province of issue. The suggestion was made to switch to a gold standard which lead to a number of proposals with none actually coming to fruition. The present specimen is an example of one of those proposals that made it to trial striking for presentation. On November 1, 1919 when Dr. Giuseppe Ros wrote about Chinese Tael coinage in the "North China Herald" he did not fully understand the significance of these pieces stating "Proofs in bronze are known (I have seen 3 specimens) of a coin of small diameter - about 20-cents size - with 庫(Kù) in the center of the obverse and legend around 北洋機器局 (Běiyáng jīqì jú); and 一兩 (Yī liǎng): 1 Tael, encircled by 2 dragons, on reverse." The same can be said about Edward Kann when he cites Ros' article and goes on to state "It is not clear whether or not Dr. Ros referred to an intended 2-mace PEIYANG proof coin; for it is most unlikely that a coin for 1 Tael should ever have been designed in this size of a 20-cents piece. As Dr. Ros was a serious minded numismatist, his words are cited here, though we feel unable to place proper meaning on them." It is clear that neither Ros nor Kann suspected that these pieces were trials of gold coins struck in copper or brass for presentation purposes. A plausible explanation for why this series never made it into full production and abandoned could be due to the outbreak of the boxer rebellion which lasted from 2 November 1899 - 7 September 1901. Sharply struck with the design features in high relief. Attractive mottled olive and mocha patina throughout. Very interesting and fully deserving of further in depth research from the specialist. Estimate: $1,000 - $1,500. Provenance: From the Q. David Bowers Collection. Ex: R. B. White. PCGS #659281. PCGS SP-53 Secure Holder. Click here for certification details from PCGS. 直隸（北洋機器局）庫字一兩銅幣。樣幣。 黃銅製，光邊，極罕。為金本位幣制所設計的一兩錢。背面逆時針鑄有"北洋機器局"五字，中心珠圈環繞"庫"字；背面鑄有面值"一兩"，雙側分飾龍圖。約在十九世紀末二十世紀初，中國銀幣及銅幣的價值在不同省份間相去甚遠，甚至有時在同一省份亦如此。解決之道是採取統一的金本位幣制，提出的相關草案甚多，但均未獲實施，而此枚錢幣便是其中一項草案促成的試鑄樣幣。1919年11月1日，Dr. Giuseppe Ros在報紙North China Herald中發表了一篇關於中國錢幣的文章，裏面有這樣一段話："已知有鑄銅樣幣（本人便有3枚），其體量較小，與二十分大小相似，一面'庫'字居中，'北洋機器局'環繞，另一面鑄'一兩'，兩側各有一龍。"後來，Edward Kann引述這段話時補充評論道："Dr. Ros此處所指的是否是計劃新鑄的北洋二錢樣幣，尚未可知。因為一兩錢幣的大小斷無可能與二十分相當。不過，由於Dr. Ros是名嚴謹的錢幣專家，我依然在此引用他的原話，儘管我並不知道該如何理解他的意思。"很明顯，Dr. Ros和Edward Kann都低估了這枚樣幣的重要性。他們從未想過，這枚錢幣可能是為預備推出的金幣所鑄的銅樣。現普遍相信，1899年11月2日至1901年9月7日的義和團運動是阻礙這系列錢幣大規模生産流通的原因。此拍品鑄打深峻，圖文清晰，表面呈現斑駁的橄欖色和茶色。極富趣味性的一枚，值得銅幣專家仔細研究。