Anhwei. Kuang-hsü Dollar Year 24 (1898) MS61 NGC, Anking mint, KM-Y45.3, L&M-199, Kann-57, Chang-CH44, WS-1076, Wenchao-708. Variety with tall Si and T.A.S.C. on obverse (reverse as holdered). Unusually fine quality for this province whose coinage is already considered generally scarce in any condition, most showing cleaning, wear, or chopmarking over the surfaces. Notably short-lived as a type, we would note that while Wang Chun Li states that it was only in 1898 that Anhwei introduced a silver Dollar carrying the characters T-A-S-C in the center of the obverse, Wenchao records an extremely rare example dated to the prior year and carrying the same initials, further proposing that these letters--usually read in the order A-S-T-C--likely stand for "Tatsing Anhwei Silver Coin" (Anhwei Silver Coin of the Great Qing). Although revealing the typical striking weaknesses associated with the provincial mint at Anking, including extensive softness atop the dragon's scales and rust towards the obverse peripheries, this piece on the whole proves quite admirable. Cartwheel luster beams evenly over each side, all as a satin finish of fine flow lines creates an aurous framing device to the iconic dragon motif.

HID09801242017

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