拍品描述： 光绪三十年湖北省造大清银币库平一两。大字版。仅在高铸处有轻微经手痕迹。铸打深峻，币面大致呈枪灰色，金色包浆洒落点缀，边缘包浆色泽更深。此品相极难得，更佳品难寻。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。

CHINA. Hupeh. Tael, Year 30 (1904). PCGS AU-58 Gold Shield.L&M-181; K-933; KM-Y-128.1; WS-0879. Large Characters type. Exhibiting just a hint of light handling upon the high points, this pleasingly struck example features mostly gunmetal gray surfaces with some golden hints speckled throughout, while a slightly darker nature near the peripheries adds further character. Quite difficult to locate in more elevated states of preservation such as is on display with this great specimen.Originally 648,000 Hupeh Taels were minted, including both large and small character types. It is unknown exactly how many of each were struck. However, it is clear that the large character type is by far the rarer of the two. In the initial proposal to produce these coins, it was also suggested to produce smaller denominations in the values of 5, 2 and 1 Mace. However, no such pieces have surfaced (even in pattern form) and it is unlikely they were ever produced. 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. This short lived series circulated for only a brief period of time 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 likely much of this was melted down to be made into later coinage.