拍品描述： 1867年香港上海贰钱样币。香港造币厂。

CHINA. Hong Kong. Silver 2 Mace Pattern, 1867. Hong Kong Mint. Victoria. PCGS SPECIMEN-62+ Gold Shield.

精美绝伦，极罕且仅曾短期发行的真品。正面有英国皇冠居中，圆珠围绕，铭文英字"Two Mace . Shanghai" ，日期 "H1867H" 于底。反面八角芒星，圆珠围绕，上下左右写上"上海贰钱"。保存完好的一枚，高边深打，图文霜面光泽，银光温润。悦人眼目的一枚，表面斑驳灰色包浆，灯光下转动时更透现虹彩，原味十足。独一无二的珍品，绝对能成为收藏中的至尊瑰宝。当耿爱德出版其杰出著作《中国钱币图解目录》的第一版时，此版存世已知仅三枚。两枚来自著名的 Tracy Woodward 收藏系列，另一枚来自芝加哥的 Don C. Keefer。此样币是在殖民政府的命令下由香港造币厂准备的，并已提交给北京政府，以试图改革货币体系并建立可以被广泛接受的流通银币。最终，壹两及贰钱的设计被回绝，儘管原因不明，不过设计以英国皇家为主，缺乏中国元素可能为箇中原因。考虑到当时中英两国之间的紧张关係，难怪帝国法院对这些设计不满。本是铸以纪念国家统一的新币，却融入外国君主的徽记，犹如侮辱。

L&M-602; K-913; KM-Pn123; Prid-317 (plate coin); Wenchao-392 (5 Stars); Chang Foundation-62. The obverse of the this lovely, EXCEEDINGLY RARE, and short-lived minor issue depicts the British crown within a beaded border, along with the legend "Two Mace . Shanghai" above and the date "*1867*" below; meanwhile, the reverse displays an 8-pointed radiant star within beaded border along with Chinese characters in the legend in an unorthodox sequence, reading as "Shang (right) Hai (left) Er (top) Chien (bottom)" (Shanghai two Mace). This nicely preserved pattern-only issue exhibits a sharp strike with raised upset wire rims, frosty devices, and slightly subdued flashy surfaces that retain much brilliance. Pleasing to the eye, this specimen displays very attractive mottled grey patina complemented by an iridescent sheen that pops out when tilted in the light, ultimately offering much originality.

The opportunity to acquire such an elite rarity does not present itself often and, for all intents and purposes, should be considered a trophy piece destined for an advanced collection of high caliber numismatic treasures.When Kann published the first edition of his masterful work, Illustrated Catalog of Chinese Coins, he was aware of only three surviving examples of this denomination: two from the famous Tracy Woodward collection and one from Mr. Don C. Keefer of Chicago. Prepared at the Hong Kong Mint at the order of the colonial government, these proposed patterns were submitted to the government at Peking in an attempt to reform the currency system and establish silver coinage for circulation that could be accepted by the public. Ultimately, these designs--Tael and 2 Mace--were rejected with no indication as to why, though the appearance of the British royal arms should have been obvious. Considering the tense relationship between the British and Chinese at the time, its no wonder why these designs were met with dissatisfaction by the imperial court. Furthermore, the inclusion of an insignia of a foreign monarch for a proposed unified national coinage was just downright insulting.

From the Pinnacle Collection.