Watch List notes:

(t) CHINA. Hupeh. Tael, Year 30 (1904). Wuchang Mint. Kuang-hsu (Guangxu). NGC MS-63.
L&M-180; K-933; KM-Y-128.2; WS-0878. Small characters variety. Boasting an appeal that few other Chinese types can match, the present example of the famed Hupeh Tael is rich with Mint State beauty. Perfectly complemented by supporting golden tone, with a few deeper lavender touches, that coats nearly the entire planchet, with undergirding luster that still shimmers through. The strike is sharp and full, with only a singular contact of note on the reverse. A desirous example, and one that would be hard to match on complete beauty.

648,000 Hupeh Taels were originally minted, inclusive of both large and small character types; however, it is unknown exactly how many of each were struck. This Tael was introduced as part of a projected coinage reform based upon the traditional Chinese weight standard rather than the Dollar system. In the initial proposal to produce these coins, it was also suggested to produce smaller denominations in the values of 1, 2, and 5 Mace. However, no such pieces have surfaced (even in pattern form), and it is unlikely they were ever produced. The general populace found it complicated to convert two distinctly different coinage systems, especially when making change.

Estimate: $200000 - $250000