浙江省造铜样币一文。黄铜铸，极其稀罕，已知可能仅有四枚存世，巴黎铸币厰造。这是中国钱币史上首款以铜钱为模板铸造，内有圆孔的机製币。许多人好奇于此币背后的故事，而理查德-怀特 (Richard Wright) 所著的《西方档案库中的中国货币--1866-1949》(emThe Modern Coinage of China 1866-1949, The Evidence in Western Archives/em) 为我们详解了它的来龙去脉。该书第168页称，这是中法两国间数次造币合作之一。巴黎铸币厰史料载，其模具由M. Barre于1866年雕刻，描图还保留在铸币厰中；仅有三枚已知同款存世，这枚或成为第四枚。接著，怀特还原了铸造此币的历史背景。1866年，由中国海关税务总司秘书斌椿带队的清朝官员一行游历欧洲进行考察，首站为法国马赛。斌椿厌倦于官方考察，便缺席了对巴黎铸币厰的游览，只安排手下参加。这些样币极有可能专为这场参观铸造，仅铸几枚分发予到访的中国官员。
CHINA. Chekiang. Brass Cash Pattern, ND (1862-75). PCGS SP-64+ Gold Shield。KM-unlisted; CCC-777. Struck in brass. EXCEEDINGLY RARE. Potentially only four known. Struck at the Paris mint, this type is the first Chinese style specimen featuring a Cash piece utilizing a round hole. This curious piece raises many questions, and thankfully Richard Wrights "The Modern Coinage of China 1866-1949, The Evidence in Western Archives" provides some detail. On page 168 of Wrights book, he illuminates that this piece is one of but a few instances of Sino-French cooperation in numismatics. Paris mint archives describe this type, as engraved by M. Barre in 1866, struck in brass with a tracing of the design as well. This Paris mint catalog also suggests that there are only three examples known (with this piece possibly the fourth known). Wright continues with an explanation into what occasion prompted the minting and scarcity of this type. One of the earliest instances of Chinese officials visiting Europe, the Chinese Secretary of the Imperial Maritime Customs, Pin Chun fulfilled his duty and toured France in 1866. By the time the party reached Paris by way of Marseilles, Pin Chun had grown weary of the official tours and left the Paris Mint tour to his subordinates. Seemingly these specimens were created on this occasion and account for their rarity, potentially just a few were produced for these touring officials。
