拍品描述： 湖北省造双龙一两小字 NGC AU 53

光绪三十年湖北省造大清银币库平一两。小字版。 小字版。 保存完好，广受欢迎的版别，打模深峻有力，细节栩栩如生。表面通体灰鸽色包浆，外环更渗现日落虹彩，可说是存世中的一枚瑰宝，品相比2019年8月香港夏拍所呈献的同分佳品#51149更佳，当时的成交价已高达$24,000连佣金，此枚更是令人期待，绝对会在藏家间口颂相传。湖北双龙一两共制有648,000枚，包括大字版和小字版。每一版具体制作量不详。

当时的币制改革拟弃用"圆"为单位，改用中国传统重量单位制钱，湖北一两便应运而生。原本在制造双龙一两的同时，铸币局还要铸五钱、二钱、一钱等辅币，但是这些辅币均未有流通币流传于世，甚至连样币都没有，因此很有可能未曾铸出。当时的百姓普遍认为两种币制在转换时会引起困扰，在找换时尤其。这一换算混乱情况的真实佐证是大英博物馆馆藏的一枚湖北一两，它新如出厂，唯独好似切饼般被切去了一角，与Joe Cribb著述Money in the Bank第121页图4.10所示的broken dollars有异曲同工之妙。湖北双龙一两流通时间极短，之后被大清银币替代，儘管铸打数量很多，但是之后多被回炉重铸。值得注意的是，湖北一两成色是0.877，与1905年（光绪三十一年）制定的一两银币章程中所规定的含银0.960不符。

CHINA. Hupeh. Tael, Year 30 (1904). NGC AU-53. L&M-180; K-933; KM-Y-128.2; WS-0878; Sun-1-2-06. Small Characters variety. An attractive nicely preserved example of this ever popular type exhibiting a bold strike with good definition of the fine details. The surfaces display lovely pervasive dove gray patina with hints of sunset hued iridescence in the peripherals. A very pleasing survivor with good eye appeal far nicer looking than an identically graded example we sold in our August Hong Kong 2019 auction Lot # 51149 which hammered down at an impressive $24,000 plus buyer fee.

A wholesome piece certain to garner much attention from collectors seeking good looking examples.Originally 648,000 Hupeh Taels were minted, this includes both large and small character types; however, it is unknown exactly how many of each were struck. The Hupeh Tael was introduced as part of a projected coinage reform based on the traditional Chinese weight standard, rather than the Dollar system. In the initial proposal to produce these coins, it was also suggested to produce smaller denominations in the values of 1, 2, and 5 Mace. However, no such pieces have surfaced (even in pattern form) and it is unlikely they were ever produced. The general populace found it complicated in converting two distinctly different coinage systems, especially when making change.

A Hupeh Tael housed in the British museum supports this by showing evidence of cutting to make change. The British museum specimen is essentially mint state with a large pie shape section cut from the coin. The cut is in a similar manner to the "broken dollars" picture on pg. 121 figure 4.10 of Joe Cribbs reference Money in the Bank. This short lived series circulated for only a brief period and was soon after replaced by the unified Tai Ching Ti Kuo silver coinage. Although the Hupeh Tael coinage has a fairly large mintage, most were likely melted down to be made into later coinage. It is interesting to note that the Hupeh Taels were struck in 0.877 fine silver, as opposed to the 0.960 fine silver set forth by the currency regulations of 1905.

On September 1, 2019, the United States enacted new tariffs on collectors items manufactured in China. Accordingly, all buyers in forthcoming Stacks Bowers and Ponterio Hong Kong Auctions who wish to have any Chinese manufactured item delivered within the United States will be subject to these tariffs.</em><em>Furthermore, as a result of the new tariffs, all orders will be shipped directly from our Hong Kong offices and shipments to the United States will be subject to our international shipping chart.