Empire General Issues

(t) CHINA. Bronze Mace Pattern, Year 29 (1903). Osaka Mint. NGC MS-64 Red Brown.

cf. L&M-4; cf. K-930; cf. KM-Pn291; Hsu-4. An unlisted metal type, this piece exhibits a needle sharp strike that clearly defines the most intricate, crisp details and blocked off letters and calligraphy. The smooth clean fields displaying an attractive tawny-red color while hints of brunette hues grace the tops of the devices. A wholly original representative of the type with a great look destine for an advanced collection. According to Edward Kann, this series was part of a projected currency reform based on the gold standard consisting of 1 Tael, 5 Mace, 3 Mace, 1 Mace and 5 Candareens, but never came to fruition. As the Pei Yang Arsenal was destroyed during the Boxer Rebellion (1900-01) and the new central mint at Tientsin was not in full production until 1904, the Osaka Mint was commissioned to prepare dies and samples of the new proposed coinage. These issues are know in at least three different metal types including gold, silver and bronze all of which should be considered EXTREMELY RARE and highly sought after.

Estimate: $ 10000.00 - 15000.00

光緒二十九年戶部光緒元寶庫平一錢銅幣樣。大阪造幣廠。

所用金屬未被收錄。鑄打銳利，細節分明，纖毫畢現，字體有力。乾净絲滑的幣面呈赤褐色，圖文高點有深棕色點綴。全原始品相，美不勝收，適合資深集藏。據耿愛德著述，政府曾有意改革幣制，參考金本位，設置幣值壹兩、伍錢、三錢、壹錢伍分。然而，北洋鑄幣廠毀於1900-01年的義和團拳亂，而天津新中央鑄幣廠直到1904年才開鑄。該計劃終告流產。其時，由大阪鑄幣廠承造新系列模具和幣樣。已知同款幣樣由至少三種金屬鑄造：金、銀、銅，均極盡稀貴，備受熱捧。