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Antique Coin Recycling and Appraisal | On-site Purchase of Kwangtung 7-Mace-2-Candareens Silver Coin Made in the Kwangtung Mint during the Guangxu Period｜Hongkang Commercial Firm
Antique Coin Recycling and Appraisal | On-site Purchase of Kwangtung 7-Mace-2-Candareens Silver Coin Made in the Kwangtung Mint during the Guangxu Period｜Hongkang Commercial Firm
️ Historical Background and Minting Craftsmanship Analysis
The Guangxu Yuanbao (Kuang-hsü Yuan-pao) General Mint series of silver coins holds an extremely important position in modern Chinese monetary history. Unlike silver dollars minted by various provinces (such as Beiyang, Jiangnan, and Guangdong), the "General Mint" represents a central government attempt to unify the currency system and reclaim minting rights.
This "Kuping 1 mace and 4.4 candareens" (commonly known as "two jiao" or "20 cents small silver dollar") was minted in 1908 (the 34th year of Guangxu's reign) by the Tianjin General Mint of the Ministry of Revenue. It features exquisite design, deeply sculpted dragon patterns, and dignified calligraphy. As it was circulated as subsidiary currency, high-grade specimens are scarcer than the main currency (7 mace and 2 candareens), giving it stable appreciation potential in the high-end silver coin collecting market and old coin recycling market.
Guangxu Yuanbao (General Mint Version) Physical Specifications and Detailed Parameters
To help collectors more accurately identify the basic characteristics of the silver coins they possess, we have compiled a standard physical parameter comparison table. This aids in preliminary screening for genuine and counterfeit silver dollars and identifying different versions.
| Parameter | Specification Details | Remarks and Authentication Points |
|---|---|---|
| Minting Year | Guangxu 34th Year (1908) | Late Qing Dynasty, central unified minting |
| Face Value/Denomination | Kuping 1 mace and 4.4 candareens (1.44 Mace) | Commonly known as "two jiao" or "20 Cents" |
| Standard Diameter | Approx. 23.5 mm - 24.0 mm | If the diameter deviates significantly, beware of modern fakes |
| Standard Weight | Approx. 5.2g - 5.4g | Wear and tear can cause slight weight loss; suspect if below 5.0g |
| Main Material | Silver | Silver content typically between 82% - 89% |
| Obverse Design | "Guangxu Yuanbao" (光緒元寶) four characters, no Manchu script in the center | "General Mint" (造幣總廠) at the top, "Kuping 1 mace and 4.4 candareens" (庫平一錢四分四厘) at the bottom |
| Reverse Design | Coiled Dragon (Standing Dragon) | Strong three-dimensional dragon scales, natural and flowing cloud patterns |