Taiwan (1853) dollar Kann-2
Taiwan was originally administered as part of Fujian Province. The archipelago became its own province in 1875. It was seized by Japan in the First Sino-Japanese War in 1895, and returned in 1945. The Republic of China government made Taiwan its seat in 1949, and it has been administered as a separate country since, though the People’s Republic of China does not recognize its sovereignty.
The specimen shown was lot 21811 in Ponterio sale 165 (Hong Kong, April 2012), where it sold for $86,250. The catalog description[1] noted,
"CHINA. Taiwan. Ju-I Military Ration 'Lotus' Dollar (6 Mace 8 Candareens), ND (1853). NGC EF Details--Chop Marked. 台灣。Ju-I 軍事给糧「蓮花」元（6 錢 8 分），ND （1853 年）。The Taiwan Treasury supplied the silver to produce this issue in order to pay for military rations and soldiers. These were issued during a period of uprising in 1853, which lasted several months. Struck in the city of Taiwan, once the uprising was put to an end, minting of this coinage ceased. This would suggest a very low mintage for this type. Normally, this type is found in average to low condition, often heavily chop marked. This coin is attractively toned, well struck on a broad planchet with a moderate number of chop marks. 鴻禧美術館-頁碼 50#19; 溫超-頁碼 172#178（珍藏度☆☆☆）。台灣國庫提供銀幣用以生產錢幣，以支付軍事給糧以及軍餉。錢幣發行與 1853 NGC EF Details--Chop Marked. Newton / Bressett Collection"
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver.
Catalog reference: L&M-323; Kann-2; C #25-4; Chang Foundation-pg. 50#19; Wenchao-pg. 172#178.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- Kann, Eduard. Illustrated Catalog of Chinese Coins, Vol. 1 of 3. Bronx, NY: Ishi Press International, 2006.
- Lin Gwo Ming, Illustrated Catalogue of Chinese Gold & Silver Coins: Ching and Republican Issues, Seventh Edition, Hong Kong: Ma Tak Wo Numismatic Co., Ltd., 2012.
- [1]Ponterio, Richard,’’The April 2012 Hong Kong Auction, Sale #165’’ Irvine, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2012.
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