Spink USA
Auction 382 15 Jan 2023
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China, Xinjiang Province (Sinkiang), Hsüan-t'ung, 'Year Two' Military-Pay Sar or 'Ration' Tael, 1910 [ND], Tihwa Mint [Shuimogou Machinery Bureau], under the administration of Yuan Tai Fa, without Turki legend, rev. circled Dragon surrounded by Turki legend, without rosettes, edge milled, 35.42g, 2h (L&M 813; Kann 1011 [1905]; KM Y7.1 [1905]; Hsien-Chang 218), a notoriously crude issue, with overt metal flaws and nicks, lightly wiped, otherwise residually lustrous, a bolder very fine, scarce.
Minted in the second year of Emperor Hsüan-t'ung after the Administrator of Sinkiang, Yuan Tai Fa, had established a mint at Shuimogou Machinery Bureau outside of Tihwa using equipment acquired from Shanghai, these so-called "ration" taels were issued to pay and provision soldiers, and saw only short-term production before the mint was forced to close by the outbreak of revolution in 1911. Already plagued by a notorious softness to the highpoints due to issues in setting up the striking machinery, the series is further characterized by excessive circulation and numerous post-mint imperfections, perhaps for similar reasons as Hsien-Chang indicates for the smaller 1 Mace coins, which were frequently used as buttons by the local Muslim population.
Estimate: $300 - $500
Minted in the second year of Emperor Hsüan-t'ung after the Administrator of Sinkiang, Yuan Tai Fa, had established a mint at Shuimogou Machinery Bureau outside of Tihwa using equipment acquired from Shanghai, these so-called "ration" taels were issued to pay and provision soldiers, and saw only short-term production before the mint was forced to close by the outbreak of revolution in 1911. Already plagued by a notorious softness to the highpoints due to issues in setting up the striking machinery, the series is further characterized by excessive circulation and numerous post-mint imperfections, perhaps for similar reasons as Hsien-Chang indicates for the smaller 1 Mace coins, which were frequently used as buttons by the local Muslim population.
Estimate: $300 - $500