This
week we feature another highlight from the Q. David Bowers/R.B. White
Collection of Chinese Copper Coins to be offered in our April 2-4, 2018 Hong
Kong auction as a stand along catalog. It is easy to see why this
fabulous style dragon Hunan 10 Cash is so popular with specialists. Its
artistic style and execution far surpass that of any other 10 Cash struck in
China during this period. Clearly the engraver paid special attention to detail
when cutting this die. The clear well
defined details from the background to the foreground of the face and body offers
a perspective not normally seen on these coins. The state of preservation
coupled with the excellent rendering of the dragon clearly displays Chinese
artistry.
Like
all Imperial 10 Cash of this type this piece features a curled facing dragon
among clouds, waves below, flame ball at center all within a beaded border,
bearing the standard outer legend “TAI-CHING-TI-KUO COPPER.COIN” in English lettering
and Chinese inscription “Guangxu nian zao” (Guangxu era). The reverse displays both Chinese and Manchu
script with the central legend that reads from top to bottom and right to left
as “Da qing tong bi” (Qing copper coin) and incuse mintmark “Xiang” at center on
a raised disk all within beaded border. The outer legend consists of both
Chinese and Manchu inscriptions; the latter is the equivalent to the central
Chinese inscription, flanked by the cyclical date “Bing wu” (1906). The central
outer legend “Hu bu” (Board of Revenue) and the lower outer legend reads as “Dang
zhi qian shi wen” (Value of 10 Cash). Though
similar in many ways to other standardized Imperial issues, the fine style of
the dragon with its excellent rendering clearly sets it apart from its
contemporaries.
We
are no longer accepting consignments for our April 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.
