Hunan. Funan Official Bureau Liangmianbing ("Two-Faced Cake") Tael (Mace, 7 Chi'en) ND (1906) MS64 NGC, Funan mint, Kann-942, L&M-386, WS-0907, Cribb-LXXXIII.A.1086. Obverse stamped in three columns, reading from right to left: "Hu Nan Fu Nan Guan Ju" (Hunan Provincial Funan Official Bureau); reverse stamped in three columns, reading from right to left: "Sheng Ping Zu Wen Yi Liang" (Provincial Weight Standard, pure fine silver, one ounce). A simply gorgeous piece through-and-through, presenting a level of detail and visual allure that seems to nearly fly in the face of the purpose for which these silver cakes were produced in the first place. Like its neighbors, Hunan suffered from an overabundance of copper coins, as well as a dearth of imperial silver dollars from the capital mint at Changsa, with the consequence that merchants were allowed to send silver to the mint to be struck into circulating cakes around 1906. Most such pieces show evidence of heavy circulation wear due to their much-needed use in commerce, making a piece such as this, the current finest certified, an anomaly. Furthermore, the strike is perfectly centered, while an aurora of golden-orange, cobalt, and magenta tone decorates both sides. For comparison, the previous finest certified (an MS63) hammered for $15,000 in March of last year.

HID09801242017

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