拍品描述： 咸丰六年郁森盛丰年造上海江苏银饼。

CHINA. Shanghai. Tael, Year 6 (1856). PCGS AU-50 Gold Shield.

咸丰六年郁森盛丰年造上海江苏银饼。正面为"咸丰六年 上海县号 商郁森盛 足纹银饼"，反面为"朱源裕监 倾曹平实 重壹两银 匠丰年造"。保存状态良好，鲜见于市场的版别，带铭文的更是<strong>非常罕见</strong>。正面铸打稍有不均，左上两个字体稍弱，反面相应位置亦显得扁平，但仍然可閲。字体精美，铸刻整齐，风格与云南三槽银锭接近。表面经手痕迹少，与评级相符。灰色点状包浆，底版位置色泽更深。炙手可热的版别，定能吸引寻觅稀有版别的资深藏家青睐。<p><em>上海系列为中国生产的首个壹两钱币，极具历史意义。太平起义导致物价飞升，造成白银囤积。当时上海地区通行之西班牙本洋银元兑价高涨。1856年上海道委託王永盛、经正记及郁森盛三家商号铸造壹两与五钱银饼以抵制本洋。但因每月只能生产三千枚，远不足敷用。加上大量仿造伪品横行，使这一币种仅流通半年左右便告结束。</em>(t)

CHINA. Shanghai. Tael, Year 6 (1856). PCGS AU-50 Gold Shield.L&M-591; Kann-901; Wenchao-pg.277 #387 (rarity four stars); WS-1126. Obverse: "Xian feng liu nian shang hai xian hao shang yu sen sheng zu wen yin bing" (Xianfeng era 6th year, Shanghai county, Banker: Yu Sendsheng, pure fine silver cake); Reverse: "Zhu yuan yu jian qing cao ping shi zhong yi liang yun jiang feng nian zao" (Assayer by Zhu Yuanyu, actual weight 1 ounce [Tael] on the Shanghai scale, made by silversmith Feng Nian). A nicely preserved and attractive survivor, this highly desirable type seldom appears on the market let alone baring the inscription of a <strong>VERY </strong><strong>RARE</strong> issuer. The obverse exhibits a somewhat uneven strike with a slight weakness in the two upper left characters and corresponding flatness on the reverse, though all are readable. The calligraphy is well-made with deliberate and neatly engraved strokes in similar style to those found on the Yunnan pack-saddle Sycee ingots. The surfaces show light signs of handling consistent for the grade displaying lovely mottled gray patina with richer coloration in the protected areas offering much originality. An always in demand type that is pleasing to the eye sure to catch the attention of advanced collectors seeking tough to locate issues to expand their numismatic holdings.<p><em>The Shanghai series represents the first Tael coinage produced in China and is of extreme historical significance. Hyper-inflation caused by the Tai Ping Rebellion led to the hoarding of silver. At this time, foreign coins, namely Spanish 8 Reales circulated in Shanghai at a considerable premium. In 1856, the Shanghai authorities authorized silversmiths to issue coinage in an attempt to replace the Spanish 8 Reales. The firms Wong Yung Sheng, Ching Cheng Chee and Yu Shen Sheng were granted permission to issue coinage in the denominations of one Tael and 5 Mace. This was a short lived coinage as the monthly output was only about 3000 pieces and was not large enough to meet demand. This combined with the large number of forgeries entering circulation doomed the project to a short period of only about six months.</em>