拍品描述： 光绪三十年湖北省造大清银币库平一两。小字版。极罕一两，银光柔美，两面均呈浅灰色包浆。几处轻浅刮痕，如评级相符，但绝对是瑕不掩瑜，品相精美的一枚。正面中央下方虽有一道浅黑痕，应是来自打铸时原模有褐色所致，对分数无影响。备受追捧的版别，相信定会引起激烈竞投。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，铸币局还要铸伍钱、贰钱、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，在找钱时尤其如此。这一换算混乱情况的佐证，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，之后被大清银币取代，儘管铸打数量较多，但是之后多被回炉重铸。值得注意的是，湖北一两的银成色为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0.960不符。

On September 1, 2019, the United States enacted new tariffs on collectors items of Chinese origin, including bullion and numismatic coins and banknotes. This lot was manufactured in China and was sourced from outside the United States for this auction after the tariffs were enacted. Accordingly, any client who wishes to take delivery of this item within the United States will be subject to a 7.5% import tariff plus a processing fee of 0.3464% (minimum $26.79 / maximum $519.76). Please note, this is not, and is not intended to be, a complete description of the applicable import tariffs and buyer remains fully liable for and agrees to promptly pay all tariffs and fees relating to the import of these items into the United States and neither the auctioneer nor any consignor will have any responsibility to pay any applicable tariffs or fees. Please consult your tax adviser with any questions.Furthermore, any lots subject to an import tariff will be shipped directly from our Hong Kong offices and shipments to the United States will be subject to our international shipping chart. CHINA. Hupeh. Tael, Year 30 (1904). PCGS MS-61 Gold Shield.L&M-180; K-933; KM-Y-128.2; WS-0878. Small Characters variety. An attractive and SCARCE dollar, with decent luster and offering an even, consistent light gray tone on both sides. A few minor marks as would be expected for the grade, but nothing of real significance to distract from the overall pleasing look of the coin. One notable dark streak just south of the obverse center is actually a discoloration in the original planchet and not a mark that would hurt the grade. This is a wholesome and pleasant example of a wildly popular type that is sure to generate great bidder interest.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 to convert 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.