This week’s highlight from the Q. David Bowers/R.B.
White collection of Chinese Copper coins is Lot 40299, an incredible pattern 10
Cash, undated (ca. 1914) and signed by the prolific die engraver and head of
the Tientsin mint, Luigi Giorgi. As head
of the mint from 1910 to 1920 he was tasked with preparing and presenting
numerous designs such as the standard Yuan Shih-kai “Fat Man” Dollars and its
subsidiaries, including Cash coinage.
The obverse features a somewhat familiar design with
crossed flags flanked by curled flowers and vines with Chinese inscription
above as “中華民國” (Zhōnghuá
mínguó [Republic of China]) and below “共禾口紀念幣” (Gòng hé kǒu jìniàn bì [Commemorative
coin of the Republic]). What
differentiates this design from others is that the crossed flags are national
flags rather than the national and Kuomintang flags. The reverse features a
simplistic design displaying a wreath containing the Chinese inscription “十文” (Shí wén [Ten Wen {Cash}]) with the English
inscription “Ten Cash” below.
It would seem
that these short-lived denominations never saw mass production, as even the
regular circulation issues are quite scarce.
Even though
Yuan Shih-kai was disliked by most of the country, the coinage issued under his
regime was quite popular, especially the silver issues. They saw mass production and wide circulation
up to ten years after his demise on June 4, 1916. Some of the provincial mints up
through the warlord period continued producing silver issues. The Anking mint went
so far as to debase them to a dismal .560 fine silver.
The outstanding work that Giorgi created while in the
employ of the Tientsin mint is a testament to his expertise and artistic style.
Not only did he create numerous patterns destined for mass production and wide
use in early years of the Republic, but he was also responsible for creating
the last of the Manchu dragon dollars.
The Q. David Bowers/R.B. White Collection of Chinese
Copper Coins is offered in a stand-alone catalog in our April 2-4, 2018 Hong
Kong auction. All lots in this collection, as well as the rest of our April
2018 Hong Kong auction, can be viewed at StacksBowers.com.
We are no longer accepting consignments for our April
2018 Hong Kong auction. We are however taking consignments of world and ancient
coins and world paper money for our May Collectors Choice Online (CCO), our
August 2018 Hong Kong, August 2018 American Numismatic Association (ANA),
October 2018 Collectors Choice Online (CCO) and our 2019 New York International
Numismatic Convention (NYINC) auctions. If you are interested in consigning
your coins and paper currency (whether a whole collection or a single rarity)
be sure to contact one of our consignment directors.
