Item number: M242

Year: AD 1848

Material: Brass

Size: 18.9 x 18.9 mm

Weight: 38.25 g (with box)

Provenance: Stack’s Bowers 2023

This is a brass commemorative medal from AD 1848, celebrating the historic voyage of the Chinese three-masted junk ship “Keying.” The Keying was the first Chinese vessel to sail from Guangdong, crossing the Pacific, Indian, and Atlantic Oceans, ultimately arriving in New York and London.

The medal was designed by British engraver Thomas Halliday. The obverse features a silhouette of the “Keying” sailing through the waves, displaying its stern and port side. The ship’s bow shows the “ship eye” round bead totem, a symbol from Chinese maritime culture believed to protect sailors and ships. The sails are in a furled state, and the three masts are adorned with a British flag and two Chinese pennants. The lower part of the medal is inscribed with “CHINESE JUNK KEYING.”

The centre of the reverse side of the medal prominently displays three lines detailing the dimensions of the Keying: length 33 feet, displacement 750 tons, and depth 16 feet. Surrounding this central inscription is a circular text stating “SAILED FROM HONG KONG 1846” and “ARRIVED IN ENGLAND 1848.”

The “Keying,” named after the Viceroy of Liangguang, Keying, was a Chinese junk constructed from teak. Originally used for the tea trade between Guangzhou and Southeast Asia. According to the laws of the Qing government at that time, foreigners were not allowed to purchase Chinese ships. But this ship was secretly sold to an Englishman in AD 1846. Commanded by British Captain Charles Alfred Kellett, it was crewed by 30 sailors from Guangdong and 12 English sailors, along with a Chinese individual claiming to be a fourth-rank official named “Hesing.”

In December 6, AD 1846, the “Keying” officially set sail from Hong Kong. It reached the Cape of Good Hope in March AD 1847. Due to contractual disputes with the Guangdong sailors, the decision was made to head to New York first, allowing the sailors to disembark. After staying in New York for several months, “Hesing” and the remaining crew continued their journey to England. On March 28, AD 1848, the “Keying” successfully arrived in London after overcoming a storm, causing a sensation across the country.

Upon its arrival, the “Keying” received visits from Queen Victoria and other members of the royal family. The ship was opened to the public, and visitors were charged an entry fee, with “Hesing,” who claimed to be a Chinese official, becoming a popular attraction. To celebrate the “Keying’s” arrival, various commemorative medals were produced in England, featuring the silhouette of the junk on the front and a description of the vessel on the back.

After the initial excitement waned, the “Keying” was towed to the coast of Cheshire, England, where it was left idle. Around AD 1855, the ship met its end when it was dismantled under the pretext of research. Today, a large-scale model of the “Keying” is preserved in Hong Kong.

物件編號: M242

年代: 公元 1848 年

材質: 黃銅

尺寸: 18.9 x 18.9 mm

重量: 38.25 g (含盒)

來源: SBP錢幣拍賣 2023

這是一枚公元1848年，慶祝歷史上首艘從廣東出發，橫渡太平洋、印度洋和大西洋，最終抵達紐約和倫敦的中國三桅戎克船「耆英號」黃銅紀念章。

獎章由英國雕刻家湯瑪士·哈利戴設計。獎章正面是一艘航行於浪花上，擺出船尾和左舷的「耆英號」剪影。船首能看到中國航海文化中，能保護船員和船隻平安的「船眼」圓珠圖騰。船帆呈收納狀態，三支桅桿則分別懸掛一面英國國旗和兩面中式旌旗。獎章下半部則標註「CHINESE JUNK KEYING」(中國戎克船耆英)

獎章背面的中央有三行文字描述「耆英號」諸元，分別是長度33英呎、排水量750噸和高16英呎。外圍的環形銘文則刻上「SAILED FROM HONG KONG 1846」(從香港啟航1846)和「ARIVED IN ENGLAND 1848」(抵達英格蘭1848)。

「耆英號」以兩廣總督耆英作為命名的柚木造中式戎克船，原先是往來廣州和南洋的茶葉貿易商船。根據當時清政府的法令，外國人不得購買中國船隻。但公元1846年，這艘船被秘密賣給英國人，交由英國船長查爾斯·阿爾佛雷德·凱勒特指揮，由30名廣東籍和12名英籍水手操作，同時有一名自稱四品官員的中國人「希生」同行。

公元1846年12月6日，耆英號從香港正式啟程。於公元1847年3月抵達好望角，後續因為廣東水手的合同爭議，決定先抵達紐約讓他們先行離船。耆英號在紐約停泊數月後，希生在內的成員繼續往英國前進。公元1848年3月28日，耆英號克服暴風雨成功抵達倫敦，頓時造成英國全國的轟動。耆英號到達英國後，接待維多利亞女王在內的王室成員，並且向參觀者收取門票，自稱為中國官員的希生也成為熱門的焦點。為慶祝耆英號的抵達，英國人還製造多種外觀大同小異的紀念章，正面是戎克船的剪影，背面則是船隻的文字介紹。

後續流行消退後，耆英號被拖移至英國柴郡的海岸閒置。公元1855年左右，船隻以研究為藉口遭到拆解的命運。目前在香港有保留一艘大比例的耆英號模型。