拍品描述： 民国三年袁世凯七分脸像壹圆样币。天津造币厂。戏作币或后铸币。此版式可说是我司经手的七分脸之中最为神秘之一，很可能是一枚使用了官方模具的后铸戏作币或非官方打铸的七分脸（L&M-72）。饶有趣味的是，此并非唯一，在鑽研其他存世品后，可明确地将这枚与其他经认证的L&M-72钱币以及带L. Giorgi签名版式的钱币（L&M-73 ）连结。当中，相同的特徵包括複打，本次呈献的此枚尤其明显，且币面会展现出厂时的轻浅雀斑纹理质感。最一目了然的是，此款打铸（包括L&M-72和L&M-73）的成品均使用了相同的反面模具，每枚均展露相匹配的模具鏽斑，其中最显然而见的位于壹字左上尖端附近。以下虽并非完全统计，但其馀同款打铸的珍品包括2020年12月海瑞得拍卖中的拍品30193（L&M-72 - NGC MS-63），2022年10月我司香港拍卖的拍品＃ 51170（L&M-73 - NGC PR-61），以及我司2022年5月拍卖的拍品＃51145（L&M-73 - NGC MS-61），该拍品曾是Richard Wright集藏的一员，他亦是《中国现代钱币，1866-1949》一书的作者。 透过细研这些特点，钱币均使用生鏽的模具铸制，几乎可以确定成品均是造币厂所出的原品，但铸制的品质却指向这批打铸可能是非官方或未经认可的。事实上，量度重量后发现它比官方发行的标准重量轻了近2克（24.83克对比标准近27克），进一步助证非官方铸币或戏作币的说法。 耿爱德曾指出，戏作币往往是政府造币厂使用官方模具的产物，如同此枚一样。由于戏作币通常是不同模具的混配，因此很容易区分，但亦有例子是在早期的银元上铸打，或币面呈现类似雀斑纹理效果，可见此枚与其他公认的戏作币有相同特徵。综合以上因素，可以合理归纳此枚为一枚准合法的试样，採用了旧的原版模具，在错误的银坯上打铸。 保存状况而言，完好无缺，不见磨损，中度经手痕迹，些许髮丝痕。币面柔美银光，浅色包浆。因为此版式鲜为人知，未获PCGS和NGC评分，PCGS的理由为无法验证真实性，NGC的理由为未能决定。因此，此拍品为<strong>“现况出售，概不退换”之拍品。</strong>即便评级公司的决定未尽如人意，我司相信此为一枚引人入胜且有趣的中国钱币，带起了何时和为什麽的讨论，而对于它所使用的模具则并不存在过多争议。CHINA. Silver Dollar Pattern Mint Sport or Unofficial Restrike, Year 3 (1914). Tientsin Mint Dies. UNCIRCULATED Details. Cleaned.L&M-72; K-643; KM-Pn32; WS-0166; Wenchao-pg. 534#858 (rarity: ★★★); Mr. Shi Jiagans collection-pg. 137#633; Sun-III-2-15. Weight: 24.83 gms. One of the most enigmatic issues of this Pattern we have every offered, with this piece likely representing a later made mint sport or unofficial striking of the three-quarters facing bust Pattern (L&M-72), made with official dies. Interestingly, this coin is not alone in this class of striking, and after study of other examples, this piece can be definitively linked to other certified examples of L&M-72 as well as the L. Giorgi signed patterns (L&M-73). Common characteristics include double striking, which is particularly bold on this example, and surfaces that display an as-made micro pockmarked texture. Most definitively, items in this class (both L&M-72 and L&M-73) were struck with the same reverse dies, each showing matching instances of die rust, which is heaviest near the top left tip of the yi character. While its almost certainly not a complete census, other examples in this class include lot 30193 in Heritages December 2020 auction (L&M-72 - NGC MS-63), lot #51170 in our October 2022 Hong Kong sale (L&M-73 - NGC PR-61), and lot #51145 from our May 2022 auction (L&M-73 - NGC MS-61), which was once part of the collection of Richard Wright who authored <em>The Modern Coinage of China, 1866-1949</em>.<p>Characteristics explored, it seems certain their manufacture from rusted dies ensures they were originals from the mint, however the quality of production suggests an unofficial or unsponsored piece. In fact, weighing this example yields a disparity of nearly 2 grams lighter than official issues (24.83 gms versus a standard of nearly 27 gms), which further supports the hypothesis of an unofficial strike or mint sport. Kann relays that mint sports were often the product of government minting facilities using official dies such as the present example. Because mint sport items were often a muling of different types, they are easy to distinguish, however examples are known to be struck over earlier dollars or display similar pockmarking of the surfaces, which helps draw a parallel between this piece and those classically identified as mint sport. Given these considerations, it is a fair summation to view this piece as a quasi-legitimate Pattern, produced with old original dies, on incorrect silver planchet stock. <p>As far as the technical preservation of the piece, it remains nice, without wear but displays moderate handling in the form of hairlines. The surfaces give a soft glittering glow and a few instances of light tone. While it isnt a great surprise considering the enigmatic nature of this piece, we note that both PCGS and NGC have declined to encapsulate it, PCGS for Authenticity Unverifiable and NGC for No Decision. As such, this issue must be treated as a<strong> SOLD AS IS/NO RETURNS</strong> lot. Despite the grading company decisions, we do believe that this example represents an intriguing and interesting Chinese numismatic item that raises questions of when and why, but of which there is little dispute concerning the legitiamacy of the dies from which it was made.<strong>To view all items from the Nine Dragons Collection, click <a href=https://auctions.stacksbowers.com/lots?sort=auction_date_lot_number_asc&limit=96&search=From+the+Nine+Dragons+Collection.&lots_range=upcoming> here.</a></strong>From the Nine Dragons Collection.