(t) CHINA. Kiangnan. 7 Mace 2 Candareens (Dollar), CD (1898). Nanking Mint. Kuang-hsu (Guangxu). PCGS MS-63+.
L&M-216 (this coin illustrated); K-71C; KM-Y-145A.1; WS-0795. Variety with pearl-scaled dragon with short spines. Doubled Die dragon side. One of the most impressive and tantalizing examples of the type extant, this provocative pearl-scaled dragon presents the mythical creature's namesake scaling in full display, with a little round pearl visible within nearly every scale. Furthermore, the crispness in the strike's execution allows for the fairly dramatic display of doubling on and around the dragon, most notable on its lower body and within the English lettering. The surfaces possess a steely gray flair, while some burnished iridescence populates portions of the peripheries. For the most advanced collectors of the province, it is hard to imagine a more wondrous chance at this particular variant. For comparison, we sold an NGC MS-65 of this type in our April 2015 Hong Kong auction, where it realized a hammer of $350,000. A VERY RARE and excessively important opportunity for a specimen with immense charm and character, and one that serves as the plate coin in the newest edition of L&M.
From the KL Collection.

戊戌江南省造光緒元寶七錢二分銀幣。
珍珠龍，短龍刺。龍面重模。令人振奮的珍珠龍，龍如其名，每片鱗片均帶有一顆小珍珠。本拍品是此版中最攝人心魄的一枚。鑄打精湛，深峻銳利，龍周重模明顯，下半部分龍身以及英文處尤為顯眼。幣面呈鋼鐵灰色，棕調虹光點綴邊緣。即使是資深藏家亦未必見過能與之媲美的同版。2015年4月拍賣中的一枚NGC MS-65以350,000美元落槌。別具一格，魅力四射的最新版L&M目錄圖版幣，千載難逢的收藏良機。

Estimate: $200000.00- $400000.00