This is a “Great Qing Silver Coin” issued in the 3rd year of the Xuantong Emperor’s reign (AD 1911), following the promulgation of the “Regulations on Currency System” by the Qing government in April of that year. It was the first “national currency” coin issued by the Qing Dynasty and the first Chinese coin to be denominated in “Yuan.” Furthermore, it marked the final issuance of currency by the Qing Empire.
The “Great Qing Silver Coin” series comprised five types, including the “Long Whisker Dragon,” “Short Whisker Dragon,” “Curved Whisker Dragon,” “Mirror Image Dragon,” and “Big Tailed Dragon,” all of which were designed by the Italian-born die-cutter Luigi Giorgi at the Tianjin Mint. After deliberation, the imperial court ultimately selected the “Curved Whisker Dragon” as the finalised design, with this item representing the officially circulated version.
The obverse of the coin features a five-clawed dragon, almost entirely occupying the coin’s surface, coiled in an S-shape amidst clouds. The flames emanating from the dragon’s tail at the 9 o’clock position can be distinguished by the machine’s striking pressure, with variations categorised as either “extra flame” or “less flame.” This item belongs to the “extra flame” version. The central void on the coin is inscribed with the Chinese characters for “One Yuan,” while the lower edge bears the English inscription “ONE DOLLAR.” Additionally, there exists a variant of the coin with a decorative dot at the end of the English inscription, constituting approximately 15% of the total mintage.
On the reverse side of the coin, there is a beaded border, within which the Chinese characters “Great Qing Silver Coin” are inscribed in regular script. On the outer periphery of the beaded border, on both sides, are symmetrically arranged chrysanthemum patterns. The upper and lower edges are delineated by chrysanthemum motifs, with the issuing year “3rd year of the Xuantong” indicated in both Manchu and Chinese languages. Upon closer inspection, one can also discern several assay marks used to verify the purity of the silver on both sides of the coin.
This coin 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.
The motivation behind the issuance of the Great Qing Silver Coin by the Qing court was twofold. On one hand, it aimed to facilitate trade with foreign nations, while on the other hand, it sought to reclaim the coinage authority that had fallen into the hands of local governments, thus consolidating the power of the central government. Once the design of this coin was finalised, the court issued a decree stating that only the main mint and its branches were authorised to mint coins, with the branches receiving their moulds from the main mint. However, this plan was disrupted six months later by the impact of the Xinhai Revolution, bringing an end to the Qing Empire’s aspirations for a national currency.
Nevertheless, despite the challenges faced during the early years of the Republic of China, the Great Qing Silver Coin continued to be minted and circulated in the market until the issuance of the “Yuan Big Head” as the new national currency by Yuan Shikai, who controlled the Beiyang government, in the 3rd year of the Republic of China (AD 1914).
