Hsüan-t'ung silver Specimen Pattern "Long-Whiskered Dragon" Dollar Year 3 (1911) SP64+ NGC, Tientsin mint, KM-Pn304, L&M-28, Kann-223, WS-0040, Wenchao-105 (rarity 3 stars). Raised veins in outer leaves variety. A colossus of world numismatics, whose mere presence dominates entire sales and always excites collectors, regardless of their collecting specialty. On offer is this historic representative, and the finest we've had the pleasure of yet handling as a clear outlier across the entire series. Tranquil, glasslike expanses present an appropriate canvas for Giorgi's expertly-crafted design, rising in clear contrast and seemingly projecting towards the viewer when in-hand. Truly inspiring and accompanied by undiluted aesthetic superiority, with only the most trivial of imperfections to bound this piece from a Gem assignment. Only one other has certified finer for this variety, with our current example being the finest to come to market in more than two decades, and with this in mind, we wait with anticipation for this piece to cross the auction block. Among the most famous Patterns from the end of the Qing Dynasty are the "Long-Whiskered" Dragon Dollars of 1911 - renowned symbols of the artistic zenith of late Imperial China. Enduring as a testament to the virtuosity of acclaimed Central Mint engraver, Luigi Giorgi, who perpetuated his legacy with many striking designs throughout Imperial and Republic periods, and whose signature alone excites collectors, regardless of the issue. These numismatic marvels, born out of the Emperor's intent to standardize the national currency, were intended to erase the diverse provincial monetary norms and replace the foreign silver Dollars that had consistently undermined China's centralized fiscal policy. While the Dragon design, as seen here, was ultimately confined to the realm of Pattern concepts, it has nonetheless profoundly enthralled collectors of Chinese numismatics. HID09801242017 © 2023 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved

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