Manufactured by: Hubei, Hupeh Silver Dollar Bureau
Provenance: Stack’s Bowers 2024
This is a silver coin known as the “Xuantong Yuanbao,” minted by the “Hupeh Silver Coin Bureau” in Wuhan during the reign of the Xuantong Emperor (AD 1909 to AD 1911) of the Qing Dynasty. The denomination is marked according to the standard weight,“Kuping,” for taxation during the Qing Dynasty, indicated as 7 Mace 2 Candareens.
On the obverse side, the central motif features a five-clawed dragon, with a six-petalled flower ornament on each side. Divided by these floral ornaments, the inscription in the Wade-Giles system reads “HU-PEH PROVINCE” above, and the coin’s value “7 MACE AND 2 CANDAREENS” below. The outer periphery of the obverse is adorned with a beaded border.
On the reverse side, there are two beaded borders, with the inner circle featuring the transliteration of “Xuantong Yuanbao” in both Han and Manchu scripts.
The Manchu script in the centre is categorised into “with dots” and “without dots” based on differences in the mould. This item belongs to the “without dots” version. Like the obverse side, there is a six-petalled flower ornament on each side of the outer periphery. The inscription in Chinese regular script on the upper edge reads “Made in Hubei Province,” while the denomination “7 Mace 2 Candareens” is inscribed on the lower edge.
The Xuantong Yuanbao was the last type of coin minted during the Qing Dynasty using the “Kuping” standard for denomination. The denominations varied in quantity between the central government and the provinces, with most being smaller denominations such as “1 Mace 4.4 Candareens.”
Hubei Province, due to its developed commerce and possession of mints, issued three denominations: “7 Mace 2 Candareens,” “1 Mace 4.4 Candareens,” and “7.2 Candareens.”
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 milling method in Hubei Province began in the 15th year of the Guangxu Emperor’s reign (AD 1889). Zhang Zhidong, a prominent late Qing statesman who had previously been involved in planning a mint in Guangdong, was reassigned as the Governor-General of Huguang Province, which included Hubei Province. August of the 19th year of Guangxu’s reign (AD 1893) that Zhang, in conjunction with the Governor of Hubei, jointly submitted a memorial requesting the establishment of the second mint in China in Hubei. This request was promptly approved by the central Ministry of Revenue in September. In the 21st year of Guangxu’s reign (AD 1895), with the arrival of machinery from Germany and the hiring of British technicians, the Hubeh Silver Dollar Bureau, located at the Sanfoge in Wuchang, began production.
In the 2nd year of Xuantong (AD 1910), Hubei Silver Coin Bureau and Hubei Copper Coin Bureau merged to form the Wuchang Mint, which continued operations until the 9th year of the Republic of China (AD 1920) when it ceased production.
