Premium Recommendation - Guangxu Yuanbao 20 Cash Dragon Copper Coin

*本次藏品：光绪元宝二十文龙铜币*

典藏尺寸：重：11.1g 直径：32.4mm 厚度：1.8mm

光绪元宝二十文龙铜币主要流通于 1905-1908 年（光绪三十一年至三十四年），光绪三十四年后，清廷逐步停铸光绪元宝铜元，改铸 “大清铜币”，宣统二年（1910 年）彻底停铸，民国建立后退出流通，铸造与流通周期仅十余年，却承载清末货币改革的完整印记。光绪元宝二十文龙铜币，是晚清币制改革的核心产物、中国近代机制铜元的经典代表，以中央户部铸造及多省仿铸的 “当制钱二十文” 铜元为主体，背面蟠龙纹为核心标识，见证清末从传统方孔钱向近代机制币转型的关键历程，兼具历史价值、艺术价值与收藏价值，是钱币收藏领域入门与进阶的重要品类。

The Guangxu Yuanbao 20-wen Dragon copper coin was mainly circulated between 1905 and 1908 (the 31st to 34th year of Guangxu). After the 34th year of Guangxu, the Qing court gradually stopped minting Guangxu Yuanbao copper coins and switched to casting the 'Da Qing Copper Coin.' In the 2nd year of Xuantong (1910), minting was completely halted, and after the establishment of the Republic of China, these coins were withdrawn from circulation. Despite its minting and circulation cycle lasting only over a decade, it carries a full imprint of the late Qing monetary reforms. The Guangxu Yuanbao 20-wen Dragon copper coin is a core product of the late Qing currency reform and a classic representative of China’s modern machine-struck copper coins. It mainly consists of the 'Twenty Wen of Standard Cash' copper coins minted by the central Ministry of Revenue and imitated by various provinces. The coiled dragon pattern on the reverse is its key identifying feature, witnessing the pivotal transition from traditional square-holed coins to modern machine-struck coins during the late Qing. It holds historical, artistic, and collectible value and is an important category for both beginner and advanced coin collectors.

*本次藏品：光绪元宝二十文龙铜币*

典藏尺寸：重：11.1g 直径：32.4mm 厚度：1.8mm

材质：以红铜为主（含铜量 95% 以上），少量黄铜、白铜试铸样币（稀有）。

尺寸：直径约 32-33 毫米，厚度约 1.8-2.2 毫米，重量约 10-10.5 克，标准 “二十文” 规格。

面值：正面标注 “当制钱二十文”，即 1 枚兑换 20 枚传统方孔制钱，为清末铜元中等面值。

户部总厂标准版铸造量约数百万枚，地方各省仿铸总量超亿枚，其中江南、湖北、四川等省铸造量最大，河南、山东等省铸造量较少，稀有版别存世量仅数十枚至数百枚。

光绪元宝二十文龙铜币的核心差异集中在背面龙纹，辅以正面文字、花星、边齿、英文细节，形成数十种细分版别，收藏价值差异极大。

特征：背面中央为五爪立龙，龙身直立、昂首朝天，龙须长而舒展，龙鳞细密规整，龙爪苍劲有力，火焰纹、云纹布局匀称；龙纹外围无珠圈，环绕英文 “HU POO・20 CASH”，字体规范。

正面：珠圈内 “光绪元宝” 四字，中央满文 “宝泉”，珠圈外上 “户部”、下 “当制钱二十文”，左右对称五瓣实心花星。

Material: Mainly red copper (copper content over 95%), with small quantities of brass and nickel silver trial coins (rare).

Dimensions: Diameter approximately 32-33 mm, thickness about 1.8-2.2 mm, weight around 10-10.5 grams, standard “Twenty Cash” specification.

Denomination: The obverse is marked "Twenty Cash of Current Issue," meaning 1 coin could be exchanged for 20 traditional square-holed cash coins, representing a medium denomination among late Qing copper coins.

The standard version minted by the Ministry of Revenue’s central mint had a production of several million coins, while local provincial imitations exceeded 100 million in total, with Jiangnan, Hubei, and Sichuan provinces having the highest mintages, and Henan and Shandong provinces producing fewer. Rare versions survive only in quantities ranging from several dozen to several hundred pieces.

The core differences of the Guangxu Yuanbao Twenty Cash dragon copper coins are concentrated on the reverse dragon design, supplemented by differences in the obverse text, floral stars, rim teeth, and English details, forming dozens of subdivided varieties with significant differences in collectible value.

Features: The reverse center features a five-clawed standing dragon, body upright, head raised to the sky, long and flowing whiskers, fine and orderly scales, strong and vigorous claws, with flames and cloud patterns symmetrically arranged; no beaded circle around the dragon, encircled by the English "HU POO•20 CASH" in standard font.

Obverse: Within the beaded circle are the four characters "Guangxu Yuanbao," with Manchu script "Baoquan" in the center; outside the beaded circle, "Ministry of Revenue" above, "Twenty Cash of Current Issue" below, with five-petaled solid floral stars symmetrically on both sides.

*本次藏品：光绪元宝二十文龙铜币*

典藏尺寸：重：11.1g 直径：32.4mm 厚度：1.8mm

制模：币模由中外技师手工雕刻，正面文字采用宫廷楷书，浑厚规整、字口深峻；背面龙纹为皇权象征，细节精雕，龙须、龙鳞、龙爪层次分明，立体感强。

坯饼制作：铜料经熔炼、轧制、剪切、抛光成标准圆饼，表面平整无毛刺，为冲压奠定基础。

蒸汽冲压：采用德国进口蒸汽冲压机，压力均匀，图案清晰完整，边齿规整（直齿为主），无传统翻砂铸币的沙眼、气孔。

后期处理：成品经抛光、清洗，部分流通品自然形成包浆（暗红色、深褐色），分布均匀、有油脂感，为岁月氧化痕迹。

正面：满汉双文（中央满文、四周汉文），体现清代 “满汉一体”；珠圈、花星为传统钱币纹饰，对称工整。背面：蟠龙纹（皇权象征）+ 英文标注（国际接轨），是清末 “中体西用” 思想在货币上的直接体现；龙纹威严大气，彰显中央权威，地方版龙纹相对简约。整体：形制统一、图案精美，告别传统制钱的粗糙，是中国货币从 “手工铸造” 到 “机械生产” 的里程碑。

见证中国货币制度转型,从传统方孔钱到近代机制币，从地方分散铸币到中央统一铸币的关键历程。反映清末社会经济,面值、铸造量、流通范围折射晚清财政危机、商品经济需求与洋务运动成果。承载文化符号,龙纹、满汉双文、英文设计，融合皇权文化、传统钱币文化与近代西方文化，是晚清文化交融的实物载体。

Die Making: The coin dies are hand-carved by both Chinese and foreign technicians. The inscriptions on the obverse use court-style regular script, thick and well-proportioned with deep and sharp strokes. The dragon pattern on the reverse symbolizes imperial power, with finely carved details; the dragon's whiskers, scales, and claws are distinct and layered, giving a strong three-dimensional effect.

Blank Production: The copper material is melted, rolled, cut, and polished into standard circular blanks with smooth surfaces and no burrs, laying the foundation for stamping.

Steam Stamping: A German-imported steam press is used, ensuring even pressure, clear and complete patterns, and neatly aligned edges (mainly straight edges), without sand holes or pores typical of traditional sand-cast coins.

Post-Processing: The finished coins undergo polishing and cleaning; some circulation coins naturally develop a patina (dark red or deep brown) that is evenly distributed and oily to the touch, reflecting oxidation over time.

Obverse: Features both Manchu and Chinese inscriptions (Manchu in the center, Chinese around the edge), reflecting the Qing Dynasty ideal of 'integration of Manchu and Han'; the beaded border and floral star patterns are traditional coin designs, symmetrical and well-arranged. Reverse: Coiled dragon pattern (symbolizing imperial authority) with English inscriptions (for international use), directly embodying the late Qing concept of 'Chinese essence with Western functionality' on currency; the dragon appears majestic and authoritative, emphasizing central power, whereas local coin dragon patterns are comparatively simpler. Overall: The coin has a unified form and exquisite patterns, representing a departure from the roughness of traditional coinmaking and marking the milestone from 'hand-cast coins' to 'mechanically produced coins' in Chinese currency.

It bears witness to the transformation of China’s monetary system, from traditional square-holed coins to modern machine-struck coins, and from locally dispersed minting to centralized minting. It reflects the socio-economic conditions of the late Qing dynasty; denomination, minting quantity, and circulation range reveal the late Qing fiscal crises, commercial economy demands, and outcomes of the Self-Strengthening Movement. It carries cultural symbols, with dragon motifs, Manchu and Chinese inscriptions, and English designs, integrating imperial culture, traditional coin culture, and modern Western influences, serving as a tangible embodiment of cultural fusion in the late Qing period.

*本次藏品：光绪元宝二十文龙铜币*

典藏尺寸：重：11.1g 直径：32.4mm 厚度：1.8mm

光绪元宝二十文龙铜币，虽无银元的天价光环，却以百年历史底蕴、精美龙纹艺术、丰富版别体系，成为近代钱币收藏的 “常青树”。它不仅是一枚货币，更是清末社会变革、中西文化交融的实物缩影，无论是入门收藏、历史研究还是艺术鉴赏，都具有不可替代的价值。

The Guangxu Yuanbao twenty-wen copper coin, although lacking the exorbitant fame of silver dollars, has become a 'perennial favorite' in modern coin collecting due to its century-old historical significance, exquisite dragon designs, and diverse varieties. It is not merely a currency, but a tangible embodiment of social changes in the late Qing Dynasty and the fusion of Chinese and Western cultures, holding irreplaceable value for beginner collectors, historical research, and artistic appreciation alike.

*本次藏品：光绪元宝二十文龙铜币*

典藏尺寸：重：11.1g 直径：32.4mm 厚度：1.8mm

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