Premium Recommendation - Guangxu Yuanbao

*本次藏品：光绪元宝*

典藏尺寸：重：26g 直径：39mm

19 世纪末的晚清，内有太平天国运动余波未平，外有列强环伺蚕食，清王朝正处于风雨飘摇的黄昏时刻。然而，皇室的礼制仪典仍维持着极致的奢华与威严，广东省造光绪元宝双龙寿字币正是这一特殊历史语境下的产物 。它并非流通货币，而是专为慈禧太后寿辰打造的宫廷纪念币，承载着晚清皇权最后的荣光与祝福。关于其铸造年份，学界存在两种主流观点：其一为 “慈禧六十大寿说”，即 1894 年（光绪二十年），为庆祝慈禧太后六十寿辰，由时任广东巡抚刚毅主导铸造，作为地方进献的寿礼；其二为 “慈禧七十大寿说”，认为此币铸于 1904 年（光绪三十年），是为慈禧七十大寿特制。无论哪种说法，都指向其核心身份：晚清皇权吉礼的专属货币，仅用于宫廷赏赐、内廷陈设，从未进入市场流通，这也奠定了它 “非流通纪念币鼻祖” 的地位。

In the late Qing Dynasty at the end of the 19th century, internally, the aftermath of the Taiping Rebellion had not yet settled, and externally, foreign powers were encroaching and circling like vultures; the Qing dynasty was at a precarious twilight. Nevertheless, the royal rituals and ceremonies still maintained extreme luxury and majesty. The Guangdong Province-made Guangxu Yuanbao Double Dragon Longevity Coin was precisely a product of this special historical context. It was not currency for circulation but a palace commemorative coin specially crafted for Empress Dowager Cixi's birthday, carrying the last glory and blessings of the late Qing imperial power. Regarding its minting year, there are two main academic views: one is the 'Cixi's Sixtieth Birthday Theory,' which holds that in 1894 (the 20th year of Guangxu), to celebrate Empress Dowager Cixi's sixtieth birthday, it was cast under the leadership of the then Guangdong Governor Gang Yi as a longevity gift presented by the province; the other is the 'Cixi's Seventieth Birthday Theory,' which believes that the coin was struck in 1904 (the 30th year of Guangxu) specifically for Cixi's seventieth birthday. Regardless of the theory, they point to its core identity: a currency exclusive to the auspicious rites of the late Qing imperial power, used only for palace rewards and court displays, never entering the market circulation, which also established its status as the 'pioneer of non-circulating commemorative coins.'

*本次藏品：光绪元宝*

典藏尺寸：重：26g 直径：39mm

双龙寿字币的正面设计，每一处细节都紧扣 “祝寿” 主题，堪称晚清吉祥符号的集大成者。

核心文字：珠圈内为 “光绪元宝” 四字，字体端庄雄浑，笔画刚劲有力，尽显皇家气度；珠圈外上环 “广东省造”，下环 “库平重壹两”（或 “库平七钱二分”），左右两侧各铸一只展翅蝙蝠 ——“蝠” 谐音 “福”，与背面的 “寿” 字形成 “福寿双全” 的完美呼应，是中国传统吉祥文化在货币上的极致表达。

工艺细节：文字边缘锋利，立体感极强，珠圈颗粒均匀饱满，间距规整，体现了英国进口造币机的高压力冲压技术；蝙蝠纹饰雕刻细腻，翅膀呈锯齿状，脉络清晰，部分稀有版别还带有 “三点纹” 细节，存世量不足 10 枚，堪称珍品中的珍品。

背面是双龙寿字币的艺术核心，也是其价值的集中体现。

中心纹饰：珠圈内为篆书变体 “寿” 字，笔画方正饱满，结构对称，既符合篆书的古朴典雅，又通过线条的粗细变化营造出庄重感，成为整个币面的视觉焦点。

双龙戏珠：珠圈外两条五爪蟠龙昂首相对，龙身蜿蜒矫健，鳞爪分明，龙首朝向中央的 “寿” 字，形成 “双龙捧寿” 的经典构图。五爪龙是皇权的专属符号，双龙并立则暗喻 “二圣临朝”（光绪帝与慈禧太后），巧妙传递了晚清政治权力格局。

辅助纹饰：龙纹周围环绕祥云、水波纹，上方有火焰宝珠，下方为如意云头，既烘托出龙的威严与灵动，又强化了吉祥寓意，使整个背面纹饰层次丰富、气韵生动。

The front design of the Double-Dragon Longevity Coin has every detail closely tied to the theme of 'wishing longevity,' making it a comprehensive representation of auspicious symbols in the late Qing Dynasty.

Core text: Within the beaded circle are the four characters 'Guangxu Yuanbao,' written in a dignified and majestic style, with strong and vigorous strokes, fully displaying the imperial demeanor; outside the beaded circle, the upper arc reads 'Made in Guangdong Province,' the lower arc reads 'One Tael of Kuping' (or 'Seven Mace and Two Candareens of Kuping'), and on each side, a bat with outstretched wings is cast. The word 'bat' is a homophone for 'fortune,' perfectly echoing the 'longevity' character on the reverse, exemplifying the ultimate expression of traditional Chinese auspicious culture on currency.

Craftsmanship details: The text edges are sharp with a strong three-dimensional effect. The beads of the circle are evenly full, spaced neatly, reflecting high-pressure stamping technology of British-imported minting machines; the bat patterns are intricately carved, with serrated wings and clear vein lines. Some rare versions even feature the 'three-dot pattern,' with a surviving quantity of fewer than 10 pieces, making them true rarities.

The reverse is the artistic core of the Double-Dragon Longevity Coin and also a concentrated expression of its value.

Central motif: Within the beaded circle is a seal script variant of the 'longevity' character, with square, full strokes and symmetrical structure. It not only embodies the ancient elegance of seal script but also creates a solemn feel through variations in line thickness, becoming the visual focus of the coin.

Double Dragon Playing with the Pearl: Outside the circle, two five-clawed dragons face each other with raised heads. Their bodies twist and coil with vigor, scales and claws clearly defined, and the dragon heads face the central 'longevity' character, forming the classic composition of 'Double Dragons Holding Longevity.' The five-clawed dragon is an exclusive symbol of imperial power, and the pairing of two dragons subtly implies 'Two Saints on the Throne' (the Guangxu Emperor and Empress Dowager Cixi), cleverly conveying the political power structure of the late Qing Dynasty.

Supporting motifs: Around the dragons are auspicious clouds and water ripple patterns, a flaming pearl above, and ruyi cloud heads below, both highlighting the dragons' majesty and vitality and reinforcing the auspicious symbolism, making the entire reverse decoration richly layered and full of spirit.

*本次藏品：光绪元宝*

典藏尺寸：重：26g 直径：39mm

由于双龙寿字币是宫廷专属纪念币，铸造数量极少，且历经战乱、迁徙与销毁，存世量极为稀缺。据中国钱币学会统计，目前经权威鉴定的真品不足百枚，其中 “库平重壹两” 版仅存约 30 枚，主要收藏于上海博物馆、中国国家博物馆等公立机构，民间流通品更是凤毛麟角。

历史价值：它是晚清政治、经济、文化的缩影，见证了慈禧太后专权、币制改革、中西文化碰撞等重大历史事件，是研究晚清史的重要实物资料。

艺术价值：其设计融合了中国传统吉祥文化与西方近代造币艺术，纹饰精美、构图严谨，堪称 “钱币上的宫廷画”，具有极高的审美价值。

稀缺价值：存世量稀少、宫廷出身、非流通属性，使其成为钱币收藏中的 “硬通货”，抗风险能力极强，长期保值增值。

Since the Shuanglong Shou character coin is a court-exclusive commemorative coin, its minting quantity was extremely limited, and after enduring wars, migrations, and destructions, its surviving quantity is exceedingly rare. According to statistics from the Chinese Numismatic Society, there are currently fewer than one hundred authenticated genuine pieces, among which only about 30 pieces of the 'Kuping Weight One Tael' version remain, mainly collected in public institutions such as the Shanghai Museum and the National Museum of China, while pieces in private circulation are even rarer.

Historical Value: It is a microcosm of the politics, economy, and culture of the late Qing Dynasty, witnessing major historical events such as Empress Dowager Cixi's autocracy, currency reforms, and the collision of Chinese and Western cultures, making it an important physical material for studying late Qing history.

Artistic Value: Its design integrates traditional Chinese auspicious culture with modern Western minting art, featuring exquisite patterns and precise composition. It can be regarded as a 'court painting on a coin,' possessing extremely high aesthetic value.

Scarcity Value: Its rare surviving quantity, court origin, and non-circulating nature make it a 'hard currency' in coin collecting, with strong risk resistance and long-term preservation and appreciation potential.

*本次藏品：光绪元宝*

典藏尺寸：重：26g 直径：39mm

双龙寿字币早已超越了货币本身的功能，成为中华民族文化记忆的一部分。

它是中国最早的纪念币之一，开创了将皇家礼仪与货币艺术结合的先河，为后世纪念币的设计提供了重要借鉴。

其 “福寿双全” 的吉祥寓意，承载着中国人对美好生活的向往，成为传统吉祥文化的物质载体。

作为晚清机制币的巅峰之作，它见证了中国从传统农耕文明向近代工业文明的转型，是中西文化交流的重要见证。

如今，双龙寿字币静静地躺在博物馆与收藏家手中，诉说着百年前的王朝往事，也向世人展示着中国古代钱币艺术的辉煌与魅力。它不仅是一枚钱币，更是一段历史、一种文化、一份跨越时空的祝福。

The Double Dragon Shou-character coin has long surpassed the function of currency itself and has become a part of the cultural memory of the Chinese nation.

It is one of the earliest commemorative coins in China, pioneering the combination of imperial ceremony with the art of currency, providing important reference for the design of commemorative coins in later generations.

Its auspicious meaning of 'double blessings of fortune and longevity' carries the Chinese people's aspiration for a better life, becoming a material carrier of traditional auspicious culture.

As the pinnacle of late Qing dynasty machine-struck coins, it witnessed China's transformation from a traditional agrarian civilization to modern industrial civilization, serving as an important testament to Sino-Western cultural exchange.

Today, the Double Dragon Shou-character coin lies quietly in museums and in the hands of collectors, narrating stories of the dynasty a hundred years ago, while also showcasing the brilliance and charm of ancient Chinese coin art to the world. It is not merely a coin, but a piece of history, a form of culture, and a blessing that transcends time and space.

*本次藏品：光绪元宝*

典藏尺寸：重：26g 直径：39mm

以上藏品相关信息请与：四川尚亿拍卖有限公司联系。 

For information about the above collections, please contact: Sichuan Shangyi Auction Co., Ltd