Zhang Xueliang Commemorative Medal, No Grade

(Signature Version)

無等級張錫鑾紀念牌

(簽字版)

Item number: A291

Year: AD 1912

Material: Silver

Manufactured by: Tianjin Mint

Provenance: Stack’s Bowers 2024

This is a silver commemorative medal from the first year of the Republic of China (AD 1912), featuring the then Governor of Zhili Province, Zhang Xueliang, as the protagonist. The obverse side of the medal depicts an octagonal bust of Zhang Xueliang in military attire, with the inscriptions “Governor Zhang” and “Zhili” engraved on the left and right sides of the portrait respectively.

Above the right shoulder of the portrait is the signature of the sculptor Luigi Giorgi, bearing the inscription “GIORGI”. Luigi Giorgi, an Italian sculptor, was hired by the Tianjin Mint for a hefty annual salary of ten thousand taels around the time of the fall of the Qing Dynasty in AD 1910. He continued his service until the 9th year of the Republic of China (AD 1920), when the Beiyang Government could no longer afford his salary and dismissed him. During this decade, Luigi Giorgi not only designed the most significant modern Chinese coin, the “Yuan Big Head”, but also played a role in cultivating native Chinese sculptors based at the Tianjin Mint.

The reverse side of the medal features the intertwined “Five-Coloured Flag,” which was the national flag of the Republic of China at its inception. The upper edge of the medal is inscribed with the year of issue, “First Year of the Republic of China,” while the blank space at the bottom seems to be reserved for engraving the name of the awardee.

The medal is categorised into four grades based on the inscription at the bottom edge of the reverse side: “First-Class Commemorative Plaque, Second-Class Commemorative Plaque, Third-Class Commemorative Plaque (Bronze), and No Grade.” This item is a “No Grade” plaque, with the most significant difference being the reeded edge along its circumference compared to other grades.

This commentative medal is embedded in a silver dish crafted by the renowned Shanghai silversmith Zee Sung, with the manufacturing period estimated to fall roughly between AD 1927 and AD 1932.

Zhang Xueliang, a trusted subordinate of Yuan Shikai, assumed the important position of Governor of Zhili Province in March AD 1912, tasked with defending the capital city of Beijing. As an appointed administrative official without a local popular mandate, Zhang Xueliang faced impeachment by the provincial assembly after just five months in office. This forced Yuan Shikai to transfer him to the position of Governor of Fengtian Province in the Northeast. This medal is likely commissioned during Zhang Xueliang’s brief tenure in Zhili Province and minted by the Tianjin Mint within his jurisdiction.

This medal has long been mistakenly attributed to another prominent figure, Zhang Xun, in the auction world. Zhang Xun, the legendary figure who briefly restored the abdicated Qing Emperor Puyi to power during the 6th year of the Republic of China (AD 1917), did not hold the position of provincial governor during the Republican era. Furthermore, there is a significant disparity between the portrait on the medal and Zhang Xun’s actual appearance.

物件編號: A291

年代: 公元 1912 年

材質:

製造地: 天津造幣廠

來源: SBP錢幣拍賣 2024

這是一枚民國元年(公元1912年),以時任直隸都督張錫鑾為主角的銀質紀念章。獎章正面為張錫鑾的八分面戎裝像,於人像左右兩側分別鐫刻「張都督」和「直隸」字樣,人像右肩的上方為雕模師魯喬奇的簽名「GIORGI」。魯喬奇為義大利籍雕模師,於清朝滅亡的公元1910年之際,以每年一萬大洋的高薪受聘於天津造幣廠,持續服務至民國9年(公元1920年),直到北洋政府不堪負荷將其解雇為止。這十年的光陰間,魯喬奇操刀設計中國近代最重要的「袁大頭」硬幣外,更以天津造幣廠為基地培養中國本土雕模師。

獎章背面是兩面交叉的「五色旗」,為中華民國創立之初的國旗。獎章上緣鐫刻發行年份「中華民國元年」,下緣的留白似乎是留待鐫刻受獎者名字。該獎章按背面下緣的銘文差異,分別有「頭等紀念牌、二等紀念牌、三等紀念牌(銅)、無等級」四種等級。該物件為無等級的獎牌,邊緣具有齒邊是跟其他等級之間最大的差異。

這枚紀念章被鑲嵌在上海著名銀匠時新打造的銀盤器皿上,其鑄造時間大致落在公元1927至1932年之間。

張錫鑾為袁世凱倚重的手下,於公元1912年3月擔任保衛首都北京的直隸都督要職。張錫鑾作為空降的行政長官不具備地方民意基礎,上任才短短5個月就面臨省議會彈劾,迫使袁世凱將他調任至東三省擔任奉天都督一職。這枚獎章應該就是張錫鑾在直隸任職的短暫期間委由轄區內的天津造幣廠鑄造。

而這枚獎章在拍賣界長期被誤認為另一位知名人物張勳。這位在民國6年(公元1917年),協助前清廢帝溥儀短暫復辟的傳奇人物,於民國時期並未出任過都督一職,並且獎章的肖像和本人外貌有極大出入。

類似/相同物件 請看:

中國 阜陽市博物館 Fuyang Museum

PCGS官網

https://www.pcgsasia.com/valueview/index?l=zh-CHT&cid=4211&specno=797839&c=CNY

更多相關訊息請參考:

林國明 編,《中國近代機制金銀幣目錄》(上海:上海科學技術出版社,2021)

王永生,《鑄幣三千年:50枚錢幣串聯的極簡中國史》(台北市:聯經出版社,2024)

趙艷玲,〈順直臨時省議會彈劾都督張錫鑾案始末〉,《石家莊市:河北師范大學學報(哲學社會科學版)》,(2009),頁119-123

盧斌、劉峰,〈一枚GIORGI簽字版直隸張都督銀質紀念牌〉,《北京市:中國錢幣》,(2019),頁32-34

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