Watch List notes:

(t) CHINA. Silver Tael Pattern, Year 29 (1903). Tientsin Mint. PCGS SPECIMEN-55 Gold Shield.
L&M-1; K-927; KM-Pn295; WS-0016; Wenchao-pg. 117#79 (rarity four stars); Chang Foundation-pg. 70#29 (rarity four stars); Shanghai Museum-Mr. Shi Jiagan's collection-pg. 10#39. This charming and wholly original looking large size silver issue boasts intricate motifs with finely engraved calligraphy. The surfaces exhibit gentle signs of handling consistent for the grade, all while displaying an attractive, mottled gray patina with areas of richer coloration near the edges and among the devices. This important and popular type, seldom encountered on the open market, is highly coveted sure to be a welcome addition to the next collection into which it enters.

Although struck at the Tientsin mint, the original dies were ordered from and prepared by the Osaka mint in Japan under the supervision of Robert Hart, Inspector General of Maritime Customs. The initial goal was an early attempt to unify Chinese coinage on the gold standard, producing denominations in 1 Tael and 1/2, 1, 2 & 5 Mace. The project never went into full production for a few reasons. First, the outlined plan called for one central mint to be responsible for coinage production to insure the uniformity of the new coinage, which the directors of the provincial mints heavily resisted due to potential profit cuts. Also, at this time in China, there was no plan in place to deal with the vastly different types of paper money circulating and how to accept them in exchange.

From the Pinnacle Collection.

Estimate: $80000.00- $120000.00