拍品描述： 光绪三十年湖北省造大清银币库平壹两。大字版。

CHINA. Hupeh. Tael, Year 30 (1904). PCGS Genuine--Cleaned, Unc Details Gold Shield.

铸压有力，使用的模具洁淨，仅轻微的经手痕迹，些许陈年老旧的清洗。仔细检阅，底板上有些细痕及磨损，币缘尚有几道毫不碍眼的痕迹，但早已被包浆所盖，更添原味。此枚币面色泽瑰丽，可见经妥善存放，灯光下转动，更透现彩霞般的光泽，美艳动人。编者认为，此品瑕不掩瑜，虽得细节评分，但品相优于不少 PCGS 中获得数字评分的同款。佳品难寻，定能丰富集藏。湖北双龙壹两共制有 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，湖北壹两便应运而生。原本在制造双龙壹两的同时，铸币局还要铸伍钱、贰钱、壹钱等辅币，但是这些辅币均未有流通币流传于世，甚至连样币都未曾得见，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壹两：该币宛如新铸，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。湖北双龙壹两流通时间极短，之后被大清银币取代。儘管铸打数量较多，之后多被回炉重铸。值得注意的是，湖北壹两的银成色为 0.877，与1905 年（光绪三十一年）制定的壹两银币章程中所规定的 0.960 不符。

L&M-181; K-933b; KM-Y-128.1. Large characters on reverse. This highly attractive representative of the ever popular Hupeh Tael exhibits a bold strike from fresh, clean dies with signs of being gently handled and minor evidence of an old cleaning from long ago. Upon inspection, minor marks and abrasions are noticed in the open areas, with a few insignificant edge nicks--long since toned over--adding to its originality. This stunning example boasts beautiful multicolored patina indicative of prolonged storage under the right circumstances; an abundance of sunrise and dusky hues pop out when tilting this eye-catching survivor in the light. It is the opinion of this cataloger that, despite its shortcomings, this fantastic looking numismatic icon is far more attractive than many straight-graded examples seen in the marketplace, and is sure to be a welcome addition to the next collection into which it enters.648,000 Hupeh Taels were originally minted, inclusive of both large and small character types; however, it is unknown exactly how many of each were struck. This Tael was introduced as part of a projected coinage reform based upon 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. This 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 these Taels were struck in 0.877 fine silver, as opposed to the 0.960 fine silver set forth by the currency regulations of 1905.

From the Pinnacle Collection.