Complete Set of Three 3rd Year Republic of China Yuan Shikai Silver Dollars with Antique Cinnabar Double Happiness Xi Marks, 20th Century

拍品描述

Dimensions: Each silver coin measures 3.9 cm (1.54 inches) in diameter; the set weighs a total of 80 grams. 20th-century Chinese silver coins. Condition and provenance: All three coins are in excellent condition, without cracks, repairs, or obvious dents. The edges are clear and intact, with only slight, even natural wear from circulation. The reverse features a wreath of grains and a striking red "囍" (double happiness) character hand-painted in vermilion pigment. The vermilion pigment remains strong after a century, its color soft and antique; the natural brushstrokes confirm its authenticity as a folk celebratory mark, showing no signs of modern forgery. The obverse features a clear portrait of Yuan Shikai, epaulets, and the Republic of China year. Each coin is covered with a natural patina and a light green oxide layer, forming a smooth, natural oxidation layer, untouched by any chemical stripping or artificial coloring treatment. This set of cinnabar double happiness silver coins originated from a traditional wedding family in southern China. It was consigned to a professional silver coin dealer in Singapore for auction in 2024 and acquired in 2026 by a private collector in Pennsylvania, USA, who specializes in antique silver coins bearing the cinnabar double happiness mark. Singapore, Pennsylvania, and Vancouver are major global trading centers for antique Chinese silver coins. Description: This set of three silver coins are all 1914 Yuan Shikai one-yuan standard silver coins, each bearing a complete cinnabar double happiness mark, forming a rare and complete set that blends modern monetary history with traditional Chinese wedding customs. The Yuan Shikai "Fat Man" silver dollar was a nationally circulated standard silver coin issued in the early Republic of China, with a huge mintage, but a complete set with the cinnabar double happiness mark is extremely rare today. In ancient Chinese wedding customs, elders would write the character "double happiness" in cinnabar on silver coins as part of the dowry, symbolizing a happy marriage and double happiness, a precious tangible remnant of Han Dynasty wedding culture. These three coins are exquisitely crafted, meeting the silver purity standards of the Republic of China era. The obverse features a three-dimensional profile portrait of Yuan Shikai, with clearly visible details of his collar and shoulder insignia, surrounded by evenly spaced calligraphy reading "Republic of China Year Three." The reverse features a full ear of wheat surrounding the characters "One Yuan," symbolizing abundant harvests and wealth. The "Double Happiness" characters on all three coins are the same size and style, indicating they were a complete wedding gift set, never separated, and thus in consistently good condition. This collection has significant material research value, encompassing the minting techniques of the Republic of China era and early modern Chinese wedding customs. Complete sets of Yuan Shikai silver coins with the "Double Happiness" design are extremely rare in the world coin market, highly sought after by coin collectors and private art museums worldwide. Among privately owned silver artifacts from the Republic of China era, this is a remarkably well-preserved and precious heirloom.

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