China: Hsüan-t'ung silver Specimen Pattern "Long-Whiskered Dragon" Dollar Year 3 (1911) SP63 NGC,...

Description

Mesmerizing and Elusive Specimen Pattern "Long-Whiskered Dragon" Dollar

Hsüan-t'ung silver Specimen Pattern "Long-Whiskered Dragon" Dollar Year 3 (1911) SP63 NGC, Tientsin mint, KM-Pn304, L&M-28, Kann-223, WS-0040, Wenchao-106 (rarity 3 stars). Rounded petals variety with raised veins in outer leaves. Rarely does a coin evince so much excitement from the greater collecting community as do the famed Pattern issues of Luigi Giorgi. These issues consistently rank as holy grails for most collectors of Chinese numismatics, but atop nearly all else are the instantly recognizable and venerated "Long-Whiskered Dragon" Dollars of 1911. Produced during the storied, final year of the Qing Dynasty, the specimen on offer combines a proposed reimagining of coin design and monetary policy into a unified national currency, all in response to disparate provincial standards and the prevalence of circulating foreign currency. 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.

This whimsical departure from previous motifs showcases a successful composition and highly detailed dragon rendered practically in motion, the piece at hand has long been considered among China's most beautiful and elusive emissions. Benefitting from its clearly advanced preservation, with each detail nearly medallic and rising in clear contrast against shimmering pools of argent brilliance beneath, all enlivened by an abundance of fine die polish and needle-sharp striking. Its surfaces endure completely untoned, allowing for a full appreciation of all engraved devices and the resulting near cameo-like appearance that wholly elevates the visual allure.

Luigi Giorgi's short-lived tenure at the Central Mint in Tientsin through the late Qing and early Republican eras resulted in the production of many of China's most iconic types that remain highly contested more than a century later. While most well-known for his portraiture of the Republic's first president, Yuan Shih-kai, immortalized on the 1914 issues utilizing the "Plumed Hat" and profile portraits, Giorgi's most desirable design, according to historic auction results, remains the Long-Whiskered Dragon Dollar. Although a handful of die varieties are know for the issue, this combination of petal and vein form is seemingly more difficult to locate, most of these pale in comparison to the rarity of the type as a whole. The importance and desirability of this offering cannot be understated, and coupled with its completely enchanting aesthetic character, will demand the attention of the most discerning collectors of Chinese Patterns.

Metal: Silver
Diameter: 39mm

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

稀世遺珍大清「長鬚龍」壹圓銀樣幣

宣統三年（1911）大清銀幣壹圓樣幣「長鬚龍」。SP63 NGC。
天津造幣廠。珍稀度三星。細花陽葉版。Luigi Giogi簽署版樣幣一直享負盛名，每每能喚起錢幣收藏圈子的廣大興趣，其地位堪稱中國錢幣收藏界的聖杯，但除此之外，宣統三年的大清銀幣「長鬚龍」亦不遑多讓，足以令人肅然起敬。此幣歷史意義非同凡響﹐問世於晚清末年，揉合了新構思的硬幣設計和統一全國貨幣的大計，以解決各省幣制參差不一而且外國錢幣盛行的問題。雖然正面的飛龍圖案最終只停留於設計草案的階段，但無疑在中國錢幣收藏家的腦海中留下了深刻的烙印和廣闊的想像空間。

這款天馬行空的圖案與先前的設計大相逕庭，構圖精巧、細節豐富的飛龍圖案惟肖惟妙。這款銀幣常常被視為最美觀吸引的中國錢幣，其悉心養護的保存狀態亦居功至偉，使得每道高聳佇立的細節都呈現出近似獎章的質感，與銀白明淨的底板互為對比，遑論精美幼細的模具拋光痕跡和銳利透徹的鑄打更是令整枚銀幣更上一層樓。幣面完全不帶包漿，使得所有圖文和雕刻一覽無遺，造就了類似高浮雕的視覺效果，大大提升了整體外觀。

Luigi Giorgi在天津造幣總廠的任期從晚清延續至民國時期，雖然時長甚短，但不少最為經典的中國錢幣都出自他的手筆，即使在一個多世紀後仍深受青睞。雖然他最為人所知的作品是中國首任大總統袁世凱的肖像，被用於1914年共和紀念幣和其他銀幣，但根據拍賣記錄，Giorgi最具吸引力的一款設計依然是「長鬚龍」銀幣。雖然已知有至少數款版別存世，但這款花葉組合的版別似乎是當中較為珍罕的版別，其他的版別相比之下黯然失色。此幣的收藏價值和珍罕程度絕對不容忽視，更遑論此例具備出類拔萃的華美外觀，絕對會引起獨具慧眼的中國樣幣收藏家的密切注視。

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