拍品描述： 广东省造光绪元宝七二反版三钱六分铜样币。

CHINA. Kwangtung. Copper 3 Mace 6 Candareens (50 Cents) Specimen, ND (1890). PCGS SPECIMEN-65 Brown Gold Shield.

极罕且别具意义的发行，当初为新铸币的提案所铸。当时，广东造币厂的铸工冠绝全国，最后铸成巧夺天工的三钱六分反版铜样币。币面完美无瑕，霜面图文，镜面底板，丰富浓郁的巧克力色包浆，间有抹茶绿色光彩透现，美艳动人。灯光下转动，更可见钴蓝及品红色绽放，悦目的代表之作。绝对是钱币界中至高无上的瑰宝，经细心保存，未受人为扰动，资深藏家必然之选。首个广东发行七钱三分因为银重过多，被下令中止流通及熔毁。官员意识到新系列必须以此为鑑，决定修改原定设计，铸造新样币。新样币由广东钱局用伯明翰造币厂提供的母模铸造。设计大致与艾伦伟恩（Allan Wyon）原作相同，但作出了轻微变更。重量由七钱三分减为七钱二分，其馀面值依序递减。新重量最终与当时盛行的贸易币墨西哥 8 雷阿尔相符。部分面值中，蟠龙两侧各添加一个花星。就如七三系列，此新设计注定胎死腹中。 北京当局甫看到此设计，便因中英铭文的排列方式不合而当即驳回。设计随后需再一步修改，如将正反铭文位置交换。此币与先前的系列因而被称为"反版"。

L&M-129; cf. K-22; KM-Pn7; Wenchao-Unlisted; Chang Foundation-Unlisted; WS-Unlisted; cf. Sweeny-Unlisted. This EXTREMELY RARE and highly important specimen issue is from a series of coinage that would eventually become the standard design for the provincial mint issues. At the time of issuance, the Kwangtung mint was one of the most advanced mints in the world, capable of producing marvelous products of the highest quality such as the present example. This superlative survivor is divine, exhibiting frosted devices and hard, flashy, mirrored surfaces displaying rich mottled chocolate and mocha patina accentuated by vibrant hues that make this Gem sparkle. Shades of iridescent cobalt and magenta pop out when rotating in the light, adding immense eye appeal to this fabulous representative. Clearly, this special numismatic treasure was handled with great care to preserve its fantastic quality, and it is assuredly destined for the cabinet of a connoisseur.

When officials realized that the first Kwangtung issues, the heavier 7 Mace 3 Candareens series, were being hoarded from circulation and melted down due to extra silver content that was contained within. Quickly taking action, the authorities ordered a new, but slightly modified, coinage design. The Kwangtung mint produced these new patterns using hubs supplied by the Birmingham mint. These newly made patterns mostly adhered to Allan Wyons original design, but with slight modifications. The change in weight from the slightly heavy 7 Mace 3 Candareens series to the new, reduced weight standard of 7 Mace 2 Candareens, fell in line to the prolific trade coin of the day, the Mexican 8 Reales. Another subtle change that was made, but only on some denominations such as the present example, was the addition of small rosettes at either side of the dragon.Like the previous heavier issues, this new design was destined to fail. When presented to the authorities in Peking, the design was immediately rejected due to the placement of the English and Chinese legends, and further modification were needed. These two series of trial issues have come to be known as the "Reversed Pattern" coinage.

From the Pinnacle Collection.