拍品描述： 光绪三十年湖北省造大清银币库平壹两。

CHINA. Hupeh. Tael, Year 30 (1904). PCGS Genuine--Altered Surfaces, AU Details Gold Shield.

光绪三十年湖北省造大清银币库平壹两。小字版。隐约琥珀至枪灰色包浆，实际经手痕迹极少，底光透现。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，因此很有可能未曾铸造。当时百姓普遍认为两种币制在转换时引起困扰，在找换时尤其如此。大英博物馆藏有一枚经过切割的湖北壹两，正是用来找零的证据。该枚属 MS 品相，唯独似是切饼般被切去一角。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。儘管铸额颇大，但是之后多被回炉重铸。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。

CHINA. Hupeh. Tael, Year 30 (1904). PCGS Genuine--Altered Surfaces, AU Details Gold Shield.L&M-180; K-933; KM-Y-128.2; WS-0878. Small Characters variety. Featuring a subtle amber-gunmetal gray hue, this difficult specimen presents very little in the way of actual handling, all while some hints of brilliance radiate from the protected areas.<p><em>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 </em>Money in the Bank<em>. 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.</em>