China: Hsüan-t'ung silver Proof Pattern "Long-Whiskered Dragon" Dollar Year 3 (1911) PR63 NGC,...

Description

Brilliant Proof Long-Whiskered Dragon Pattern That is Rarely Seen Finer

Hsüan-t'ung silver Proof Pattern "Long-Whiskered Dragon" Dollar Year 3 (1911) PR63 NGC, Tientsin mint, KM-Pn305, L&M-28, Kann-223a, Chang-CH26, Shanghai Museum-592, WS-0040 var. (different obverse die), Wenchao-106 (rarity 3 stars), Chang Foundation-33, Shi Jiagan Collection-67. Variety with incuse veins on outer leaves. Among the most famous Patterns from the end of the Qing Dynasty, the so-called "Long-Whiskered" Dragon Dollars from 1911 represent what is perhaps the culmination of late Imperial art as expressed in a numismatic medium. The product of the famed Central Mint engraver, Luigi Giorgi--who also stood behind many of the most famed designs of the early Republic--this type represented a program on the part of the Emperor to unify the national currency, formally abolish the disparate standards of the different provinces, and finally supplant the circulation of foreign silver Dollars that had so long frustrated central Chinese monetary policy. Though the Dragon design observed here was ultimately destined to remain only a trial concept, it undoubtedly left its imprint on the imaginations of collectors of the Chinese series by and large. Altogether missing from the Irving Goodman Collection, and surprisingly absent from Hans Schulman and Quality Sales Corp's June 1971 sale of the Kann Collection in this die pairing; we would note that the Wa She Wong specimen certified at a mere MS61 by comparison, with the highest grade awarded across all varieties for the issue being an MS65.

Although numerous die varieties are known for this Pattern series--principally characterized by the forms of the leaves and the Manchu in the margins of the obverse (reverse as holdered here)--most of these pale in comparison to the rarity of the type as a whole, with the exception of those pieces employing the same obverse die as the adopted Dollar design (cf. Kann-223b, and L&M-37 for adopted type). Nonetheless, a great deal of insight can be gleaned about production at the mint from these small variants. The obverse of the current offering, for instance, bears strong die similarities to the "Reversed Dragon" Patterns (cf. WS-0042B), particularly in the shape of the leftmost leaf with seven points, the bottom two of which on the left show a hooked shape.

Ex. Champion Coin Auction (June 2008, Lot 192)

Metal: Silver
Diameter: 38mm

NOTE: This lot was manufactured in China and was sourced from outside the United States for this auction after September 1, 2019. Under the new US tariffs on Chinese goods, collector's items from China will be subject to an import tariff. Any clients who wish to take delivery of this item in the United States should be aware of this added charge, and consult their tax adviser with any questions. If you choose to take delivery in the United States and purchase both tariffed and non-tariffed lots from this auction, please note that the automatic invoice you receive after the auction will be incorrect; you will be emailed revised invoices shortly afterwards. The lots that fall under the tariff will be invoiced separately and will ship directly from our Hong Kong Office and carry a separate, additional shipping charge.

More information about Chinese Coins. See also: China World Coin Nationality.

極珍罕 - 輝煌超群的「長鬚龍精製樣幣」

宣統三年（1911）大清銀幣壹圓精製樣幣 「長鬚龍」。PR63 NGC。
天津造幣厰。珍稀度三星。陽葉版。清末著名樣幣系列中數一數二的名譽品，集鑄幣美術之大成的經典龍洋。「長鬚龍」獲評為「精製樣幣」是極爲稀少的。此設計出自造幣總廠名雕刻家Luigi Giorgi，Luigi其他作品包括一系列青末民初錢幣，同樣廣受讚譽。時為清末，各省鑄幣各適其適，重量成色不一，市場上亦有外國銀幣流通，令中央各種貨幣政令不行。宣統年間，中央下令統一全國貨幣，並全面取代外幣，因而鑄成這批「長鬚龍」樣幣。雖然「長鬚龍」設計最終未被采用，卻在中國錢幣藏家心中佔一重要席位，尊貴不凡。古德曼舊藏中整套樣幣從缺，耿愛德舊藏亦未見有同模樣幣，黃華樞舊藏有一枚MS61例子，已知所有版別的入評例子中最高分者MS65分。

此系列樣幣有許多不同版別，一般以葉子形狀葉脈以及正面滿文區別。當中一款模具樣式最終成爲流通銀幣之模具，除這批樣幣外，其他樣幣款式非常珍貴，合計數量寥若晨星。不過亦有藏家鍾情研究不同版別差異，一探造幣歷史：本次拍賣一枚正面酷似反龍版，其滿文字體及邊飾花葉稍粗，鑄工深峻。
出自：2008年冠軍拍賣

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