View source for Hupeh (1904) tael

[[Image: CHN-HUPEH_1904yr30_1tael_SB-lot60193-Y128point2LM180-Kann933-Hsu190-21Aug2011-USD89625-obv.jpg|300px|thumb|Ponterio sale 162, lot 60193]]
[[Image: CHN-HUPEH_1904yr30_1tael_SB-lot60193-Y128point2LM180-Kann933-Hsu190-21Aug2011-USD89625-rev.jpg|300px|thumb|photo courtesy Stack's-Bowers LLC]]
[[Image:SB421-50004o.jpg|300px|thumb|Stack's Bowers April 2021 Hong Kong sale, lot 50004]]
[[Image:SB421-50004r.jpg|300px|thumb]]
Hupeh Province is located in east-central China. The mint was active from the early Manchu dynasty, and adapted for modern coin mintage in 1895.

The first specimen shown was lot 60193 in Ponterio sale 162 (Hong Kong, August 2011), where it sold for $89,625. The catalog description<sup>[1]</sup> noted, “[[China|CHINA]]. Hupeh. Tael, Year 30 (1904). 光緒三十年湖北省造大清銀幣庫平壹兩。Mint State Small characters. Nicely toned. 字版。包漿良好。NGC MS-63. Ex: Stack's October 1977 Auction, lot# 851. Ex: Chin Family Collection.” The second specimen was lot 50004 in Stack's Bowers Hong Kong auction (Hong Kong, April 2021), where it sold for $204,000. The catalog description<sup>[2]</sup> noted, <blockquote>"A Stunningly Toned Hupeh Tael. [[China|CHINA]]. Hupeh. Tael, Year 30 (1904). PCGS Genuine--Cleaned, Unc Details Gold Shield. Large characters on reverse. This highly attractive representative of the ever popular Hupeh Tael exhibits a bold strike from fresh, clean dies with signs of being gently handled and minor evidence of an old cleaning from long ago. Upon inspection, minor marks and abrasions are noticed in the open areas, with a few insignificant edge nicks--long since toned over--adding to its originality. This stunning example boasts beautiful multicolored patina indicative of prolonged storage under the right circumstances; an abundance of sunrise and dusky hues pop out when tilting this eye-catching survivor in the light. It is the opinion of this cataloger that, despite its shortcomings, this fantastic looking numismatic icon is far more attractive than many straight-graded examples seen in the marketplace, and is sure to be a welcome addition to the next collection into which it enters.

<p>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 Cribb's reference ''Money in the Bank''. 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. From the Pinnacle Collection."</p></blockquote>

''Recorded mintage:'' 648,000 (all varieties).

''Specification:'' 37.70 g, 0.877 silver, 1.0631 oz ASW.
 
''Catalog reference:'' the first specimen: L&M-180; K-933; Y-128.2; Hsu-190. The second specimen: L&M-181; K-933b; KM-Y128.1.

''[[Bibliography|Source:]]''
* Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, ''Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th 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.
* <sup>[1]</sup>Ponterio, Richard, ''Ponterio sale 162: The August 2011 Hong Kong Auction,'' Irvine, CA: [http://www.stacksbowers.com Stack's Bowers LLC], 2011. 
* <sup>[2]</sup>Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, ''The April 2021 Hong Kong Auction'', Costa Mesa, CA: [http://www.stacksbowers.com Stack's Bowers LLC], 2021.

''Links to:''
* [[Hupeh ND (1895-1905) 5 cents Y-123|(1895-1905) 5 cents]]
* [[Hupeh (1902-05) 10 cash Y-122|(1902-1905) 10 cash]]
* [[Hupeh ND (1895-1905) 50 cents Y-126|(1895-1905) 50 cents]]
* [[China (1903) tael KM-Pn295|"Hu-Poo" (1903) pattern tael]]
* [[Hupeh ND (1906) 1 cash Y-121|(1906) 1 cash]]
* [[Hupeh 1906 CD 2 cash Y-8j|CD 1906 2 cash]]
* [[Hupeh 1906 CD 20 cash Y-11j|1906 CD 20 cash]]
* [[China (1906) tael KM-Pn301|(1906) pattern tael, struck in gold]]
* [[Coins and currency dated 1904]]
* return to [[China, Hupeh Province]]

[[Category:Selections from Ponterio sale 162]][[Category:Selections from the Stack's Bowers 2021 Hong Kong sale]][[Category: Silver crowns of Asia]]