拍品描述： 广东省造光绪元宝七分二釐银样币。七二反版龙。
CHINA. Kwangtung. 7.2 Candareens (10 Cents), ND (1890-1908). PCGS MS-62 Gold Shield.

广东省造光绪元宝七分二釐银样币。七二反版龙。PCGS 评鉴中的唯一一枚。熠熠生辉的近完美品相，铸打极深。现代中国早期钱币中的无冕之王，就算是身处最资深的集藏亦毫不逊色。

在得知所流通的初版被熔毁以提取银料后，广东当局迅即下令新版设计需做出调整。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，但作出了数处变更。壹圆的重量由七钱三分减为七钱二分，其馀面值依序递减。部分面值中，蟠龙两侧各添加一个花星。<p>仔细检视此系列中的壹圆，可见花体"2"。其风格与此系列中的后续钱币一致，由此可见是由中国模具雕刻师所制。铸工稍逊七三版。此亦符合史实，因为儘管广东钱局收到正确的器材及模具，该局并未获样版模压或生产特制坯饼的正确器械。<p>就如七三系列，此新设计注定胎死腹中。主要原因为中英铭文的排列方式与北京当局体制不合。造币厂按指示将中英铭文改至钱币的另一面。此版亦因此被称为"反版"。

远较初版<strong>罕见</strong>，铸额更少，最终并未发行。大型集藏中亦从缺的一版。此版是中国首枚以现代铸币技术造出的银样币，是中国铸币中的里程碑，因此意义重大。

(t) CHINA. Kwangtung. 7.2 Candareens (10 Cents), ND (1890-1908). PCGS MS-62 Gold Shield.L&M-131; K-24; KM-Y-195.1; WS-0939. The only example of the type graded in the PCGS census, this shimmering, nearly-choice minor presents tremendous radiance and shimmering brilliance, along with an exquisite strike. An ultimate, crowning achievement for the most advanced collections of early-modern Chinese issues.

Upon the realization that the first Kwangtung issues were being gathered from circulation and melted for their extra silver content, authorities quickly ordered a modification to the new coinage design. New patterns were produced at the Kwangtung Mint using hubs supplied by the Birmingham Mint. Essentially these were identical to Allan Wyons original design, with a few modifications. The weight was changed from 7 Mace 3 Candareens on the Dollar to 7 Mace 2 Candareens and correspondingly smaller per denomination. Another subtle change that was made, but only on some denominations, was the addition of small rosettes at either side of the dragon.

Upon further inspection of the dollar from this series one notices the stylized "2" used in the metal content. This suggests this series being prepared by a Chinese die engraver as it is consistent in style to the latter dollars of this series. The strike quality of this type is slightly inferior to that of the "Seven Three" set. This would be consistent with the fact that although the Kwangtung Mint had received the proper machinery and dies, it did not receive proof presses or the proper machinery to produce special planchets.

Like the "Seven Three" coinage, this new modified design was destined for failure. The overall design failed to meet with the approval of the Peking authorities due to the placement of the Chinese and English legends. The mint was then instructed to shift the English and Chinese text to the opposite sides of the coins. For this reason this type has come to be known as the "Reversed Pattern" series.</em><p><em>Much more <strong>RARE </strong>than the first type as it was struck in a much smaller quantity and apparently never released for circulation. Very elusive and missing from most major collections. Highly important as this type represents a landmark in Chinese minting as it is the first Specimen silver coinage produced in China with modern minting machinery.</em>