Item number: A324

Year: AD 1895 / 1905

Material: Gold

Size: 18.0 x 18.0 mm

Provenance: Heritage Auctions 2024

This is a commemorative gold coin possibly issued in the 21st or 31st year of the Guangxu reign (AD 1895 or AD 1905) to celebrate the 60th and 70th birthdays of Empress Dowager Cixi, the de facto ruler of the empire. The obverse features a portrait of Empress Dowager Cixi dressed in elaborate court attire, with the “Liangbatou” hairstyle popular among Manchu women in the late Qing Dynasty.

Cixi’s liangbatou hairstyle involved using a flat hairpin made of gold, silver, or jade to gather her hair on top of her head, adorned on both sides with jewelled flowers or ornaments. The reverse of the coin displays the character “longevity” encircled by a ring of pearls, surrounded by five bats facing the centre, symbolising good fortune and longevity.

The commemorative coin celebrating Empress Dowager Cixi’s birthday, which has clearer historical records, dates to the 20th year of the Guangxu reign (AD 1894). The Governor of Guangdong minted commemorative silver coins with a denomination of one tael and a central “longevity” character to celebrate Cixi’s 60th birthday. However, there is less clear historical documentation regarding the gold coin bearing Empress Dowager Cixi’s portrait.

物件編號: A324

年代: 公元 1895 / 1905 年

材料: 黃金

尺寸: 18.0 x 18.0 mm

來源: 海瑞得拍賣行 2024

這是一枚可能於光緒21、31年(公元1895、1905年)，時值帝國的實質統治者慈禧太后於六十和七十大壽之際發行的祝壽金幣。錢幣正面是身穿華服的慈禧太后肖像，頭上佩戴清末流行於滿人婦女之間的「兩把頭」頭飾。慈禧太后的兩把頭，使用一把以金銀或翠玉製成的扁方，把頭髮直接挽至頭頂，於兩側插以珠翠花朵或綴飾。錢幣背面是一個被珠圈環繞的「壽」字，周圍則是五隻面向中央的蝙蝠。

祝賀慈禧大壽的紀念幣，較有明確記錄是光緒20年(公元1894年)，廣東巡撫為祝賀慈禧太后六十大壽，鑄造面額為一兩和中央帶「壽」字的紀念銀幣。這枚帶有慈禧太后肖像的金幣，史料上沒有較為明確的紀錄。