Today’s
preview of the upcoming Stack’s Bowers and Ponterio April Hong Kong Showcase
Auction is a fantastic and ever popular vintage type: the Reversed
Dragon Pattern Dollar. The Central Mint in Tientsin – operated by
the Board of Revenue in Peking – minted a multitude of coinage types in the latter
period of the Empire, in an attempt to unify the currency system of China.
Unfortunately, China’s administrative disorganization (as well as insufficient
funds) hindered the reforms from gaining traction. Certainly, the revolution
overthrowing the monarchy later that year also prohibited widespread
production.
The
obverse design for this coin bears the distinctive Asian serpentine Dragon,
with this coin known as the “Reverse Type” as it runs head to tail
counterclockwise with its tail pointing to the right (the standard pattern is
the opposite). The regal and imposing Dragon is suspended midair amid wisps of
clouds, and a fiery pearl appears near the bottom of the design. The long wavy
whiskers issuing from the Dragon’s nostrils appear like a curly moustache. Two
vertical Chinese characters signify the denomination (1 Yuan) and in English
along the periphery the English legend states: “ONE DOLLAR.” The reverse design
contains an all Chinese legend. Between the outer crenulated border and the
inner pearled ring the Manchu and Chinese characters form the outer legend.
Four Manchu characters appear above, and four Chinese characters below which
state: “Hsuen Tung, 3rd Year” (1911), and these sets of characters
are separated by ornate floral sprays. The leaves in these floral designs
contain a raised vein pattern, separating this coin from other varieties of the
type (this is an example of Type II). The central Chinese inscription states:
“Ta Ch’ing Yin Pi” meaning: Great Ch’ing (Dynasty) Silver Coin.
While we are
no longer accepting consignments for our April Hong Kong Showcase Auction, we
are accepting consignments of Chinese and other Asian coins and currency for
our August 2018 Hong Kong Showcase Auction. In addition, we are taking consignments
of world and ancient coins as well as world paper money for our May 2018
Collector’s Choice Online Auction and August 2018 ANA Auction. Time is running
short, so 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.
