Kuang-hsü silver Pattern Tael CD 1906 MS64 NGC, Tientsin mint, KM-Pn300, L&M-16, Kann-934, WS-0021, Wenchao-85 (rarity 4 stars), Chang Foundation-30. Original striking. An incredible pattern specimen which characterizes the difficulties faced by China's "modernizing" program of the late 19th and early 20th century, these beautiful Taels were intended to replace the existing Mace-Candareens coinage in circulation with a new standard, divided between the Tael, 5 Mace, 2 Mace, and Mace. Struck just six years after the reestablishment of the Tientsin mint, which had been destroyed during the Boxer Rebellion of 1900, the series ultimately failed to be introduced into widespread circulation, owing both to the dissent encountered in many of the provinces and the death of the Emperor a year after the Imperial Order was to be put into effect. Still, the design would eventually influence the standard layout of the Imperial issues adopted after 1908. Beautifully toned in a rich array of iridescent cabinet hues, the coin seen here clearly embodies what was so alluring about this proposed type, the dragon cut to a level of expressiveness so often missing from the later 1908 circulation issues, while the fields are almost mirrored, suggesting a specimen designation might be fitting. While restrikes for the type from the original dies are legion, attributable largely on the basis of their mildly rough fields from die rust, the surfaces here seem wholly original and noticeably smooth--replete with ample die polish. Likely amongst the finest, if not the finest, certified, we note that an SP63 example recently achieved $150,000 hammer in May.

HID09801242017

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