Item number: M194

Year: AD 1900

Material: Silver

Size: 43.7 x 38.9 x 2.1 mm

Weight: 25.25 g

Manufactured by: Peiyang Arsenal, Tianjin

Provenance: Teutoburger Münzauktion GmbH 2023

This is a “Shanhaiguan Shooting Medal” crafted by the German military stationed in China, using a Guangxu Yuanbao silver coin with a denomination of 7 mace and 2 candareens as the base material. The original coin was minted at the Peiyang Arsenal in Tianjin during the 26th year of the Guangxu Emperor’s reign (AD 1900).

The obverse of the medal features the original design of the Guangxu Yuanbao coin, depicting a five-clawed dragon emitting flames. The upper rim is inscribed with the English legend “26th YEAR OF KUANG HSU,” denoting the year of production. Notable details include two small dots beneath the “th” underscore and three small dots at the end of the letter “U.” The bottom rim bears the English transliteration of the mint name, “PEI YANG,” with a small dot positioned at the lower right corner of the letter “G.” Due to factors such as printing pressure and mould wear, variations in the presence and intensity of dots can be observed at the four and eight o’clock positions on the coin. This specimen belongs to the variety with a missing dot on the left side.

During the period spanning from the 25th to the 34th year of the Guangxu reign (AD 1899 to AD 1908), the Guangxu Yuanbao coins minted by the Peiyang Mint were issued, with the 26th year variety being the rarest. The invasion of the Eight-Nation Alliance during that time made the Peiyang Arsenal, strategically located and housing a significant amount of military equipment, a contested site. After the Alliance captured the factory, the machinery was severely damaged, halting coin production, and the silver coins that had already been minted were seized by the Alliance forces. Consequently, these coins became highly sought after by collectors, earning the moniker “The Three Musketeers of the Dragon Dollar” in the world of numismatics.

The original reverse side of the medal was inscribed in Chinese with the denomination and the phrase “Guangxu Yuanbao.” After being processed and smoothed by the German military, geometric decorative patterns were engraved along the outer edge and centre of the coin. At the centre is a circular target and intersecting rifles, surrounded by German text in a floral font that reads “Preiss-Schiessen Shanhaikuan 11/6.1902 Dem Besten Schützen,” translating to “Shooting Competition at Shanhaiguan, November 6, 1902, to the Best Marksman.” This event was a shooting competition organised by the German troops stationed there to pass the time. Whether it was limited to the German military or involved inviting other countries’ troops to participate requires further historical documentation for confirmation.

In the autumn of AD 1900, following the successful relief of the besieged foreign legations in Beijing, the Eight-Nation Alliance continued their advance towards strategic points in northern China. Shanhaiguan, situated at the gateway between northern and northeastern China, served as a crucial passage and a vital station along the Beijing-Fengtian railway artery. Hence, in October, British forces of the Alliance landed by sea, while Russian troops arrived at Shanhaiguan by train from Fengtian. In September of the following year, after the signing of the Boxer Protocol between the Qing government and the foreign powers, the Alliance was permitted to station troops along the coast of northern China, including Shanhaiguan. From AD 1902 to AD 1945, prior to the end of World War II, troops from six countries—Britain, France, Russia, Germany, Italy, and Japan—were successively stationed at Shanhaiguan. Additionally, a hotel was constructed south of the railway station to accommodate foreign visitors. The German barracks were located on the eastern side of the mouth of the Shihé River and were annexed by Britain during World War I.

物件編號: M194

年代: 公元 1900 年

材質: 銀

尺寸: 43.7 x 38.9 x 2.1 mm

重量: 25.25 g

製造地: 北洋機器局，天津

來源: 條頓堡錢幣拍賣 2023

這是一枚以光緒26年(公元1900年)，以天津的北洋機器局鑄造之面額七錢二分的「光緒元寶」銀幣為原料，駐華德軍將其加工製作的「山海關射擊獎章」。

獎章正面為光緒元寶原貌，正面是一隻吐出火球的五爪蟠龍，上緣以英文「光緒26年」(26th YEAR OF KUANG HSU)標示鑄造年份，「th」底線下方的兩點和「U」結尾有三粒小圓點是值得注意的細節。下緣則是廠名「北洋」(PEI YANG)英文拼音，「G」右下角以一小圓點作收尾。26年版出於印壓力道和模具磨損等因素，位於四和八點鐘方向的圓點有著缺失和深淺等不同版型，該物件是屬於左側缺少圓點的版型。

橫跨光緒25年至34年(公元1899至1908年)的北洋造光緒銀元，以26年版最為稀少。當年的八國聯軍之役，讓位處戰略要地和儲存大量軍械的北洋機器局成為兵家必爭之地。聯軍攻克工廠後，機器遭到嚴重破壞使得鑄幣工作僅能停擺，已生產的銀元也遭到聯軍收刮。該銀元就成為收藏家口中「龍洋三劍客」之首。

原先獎章的反面是漢文標示幣值和「光緒元寶」字樣。經過德軍加工磨平後，於錢幣外緣和中心鐫刻幾何裝飾圖騰。正中央為一個圓形射靶和交叉的槍枝，周圍的德文銘文以花體字鐫刻「Preiss-Schiessen Shanhaikuan 11/6.1902 Dem Besten Schützen」字樣，翻譯為中文是「射擊比賽 山海關 公元1902年11月6日 致最佳射手」。此活動是駐紮於此的德軍為消磨時間舉辦的射擊競賽，至於是限於德軍內部或有邀約他國軍隊參與，尚需更多歷史文獻方能佐證。

公元1900年秋，成功解救困守於北京使官區的八國聯軍，持續向華北各地的戰略要衝挺進。山海關是連接華北和東北的重要隘口外，更是京奉鐵路大動脈的重要站點之一。因此10月之際，聯軍中的英軍從海路搶灘登陸，俄軍則是乘著火車從奉天南下進駐山海關。隔年9月，清廷和列強簽訂《辛丑條約》後，允許聯軍在包含山海關的華北沿岸駐防。公元1902至1945年，到第二次世界大戰結束前為止，先後有「英、法、俄、德、義、日」六國在山海關駐兵，更在火車站南側修建專門接待外國旅客的飯店。德軍營舍設置於石河的東側出海口，於第一次世界大戰爆發後為英國併吞。