Hunan. Kuang-hsü Double-Reverse Mule 10 Cash ND (1902-1906) XF45 Brown PCGS, CL-HUN.104 = Duan-885, Shanghai Museum-1000, Hsu (Copper)-Unl., HNS-Unl., Woodward-Unl. (2-2). By all indications an exceptionally rare mule type, with the only other examples which we have been able to locate being those plated both by Zhou and Li, and Duan, together with a holed piece in the collection of the Shanghai Museum. Furthermore apparently unknown to Woodward, it is possible that this piece represents a sort of mint sport, and we would note that, while the die pairing on offer here was missing from the Q. David Bowers Collection, a similar mule type in that sale (lot 40160) was surmised to have been produced during the early years of the Republic. Lightly worn across the highest points, the offering continues to possess a pleasing degree of detail, an even chestnut brown patina dressing the surfaces and bringing the appeal of this already singular rarity full circle.

HID09801242017

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