拍品描述： 丁未光绪年造大清金币库平一两金样币。天津造币厂制。大清钱币珍品中的常青树，极罕样币发行，品相顶尖，令人凝神注目。字面铸打纤毫毕现，龙面细节锐利，配以底板金光四射，令龙样栩栩如生。中国钱币稀珍的佼佼者，定让集藏更上一格。<p><p>大清钱币的巅峰之作，而作为近代中国的首枚金币，库平一两的重要性举足轻重。此币共有两个版别，日期为1906及1907，铸量极微，1907年版更是凤毛麟角。过去十五年本行的拍卖中仅见四枚。没有发行的试造样币。清政府计画推行一两为单位的金本位制币，不幸未能实现。主要是中国当时缺乏黄金储备，且使用的通货是以银为本位。仅试制极少数量的98%纯金质样币。

CHINA. Gold Kuping Tael Pattern, CD (1907). Tientsin Mint. PCGS SPECIMEN-61.L&M-1024; Fr-2; K-1541; KM-Pn302; Wenchao-pg. 49, #11 (rarity: four stars); Chang Foundation-pg. 26, #7; WS-0009. Among the pantheon of imperial Chinese numismatics, this shimmering, <strong>EXCEEDINGLY RARE</strong> pattern issue offers an enchanting level of eye appeal and crispness to the overall design. The characters side is finely executed, while the dragon presents intricate detail; the accompanying brilliance in the fields allows the dragon to come to life, seemingly leaping from the planchet. Undoubtedly destined for a cabinet among the most advanced and worthy of tremendous competition and intense adoration.

Arguably near or at the pinnacle of Qing dynasty numismatics, one cannot overstate the significance of Kuping Taels due to their status as the first modern Chinese coins ever struck in gold. Two variations exist, those dated 1906 and those dated 1907. Both were produced in extremely limited quantities, though 1907 pieces are definitively scarcer, with Stacks Bowers & Ponterio having offered just four in the last fifteen years. These types were struck on an experimental basis as patterns only and never released into circulation. The plans to issue gold coinage in units of one Tael for circulation, unfortunately, never materialized, with this largely being due to Chinas lack of gold reserve combined along with then-contemporary currency being based upon the silver standard. Hence, a limited number of such 98% pure gold Taels were struck as patterns for the Ministry of Revenue.</em>