Premium Recommendation -Yunnan Province Minted Guangxu Yuanbao

*本次藏品：云南省造光绪元宝*

典藏尺寸：重：13.2g直径：33.5mm

在华夏钱币文明绵延数千年的长河里，清代机制银币是中国货币近代化转型的重要见证，而云南省铸造的光绪元宝系列银币，凭借鲜明的地域特色、特殊的时代背景与精巧的币面设计，成为晚清西南钱币文化中极具代表性的品类。此枚云南省造光绪元宝库平三钱六分银币，裹挟着清末滇地的风云过往，藏着近代币制变革的时代密码，在斑驳包浆与遒劲纹饰间，诉说着一段沉淀百年的历史故事。

光绪年间，西方币制理念随通商贸易传入中国，传统方孔制钱体系难以适配日益繁盛的商品流通，清廷遂准许各省自行铸造机制银币，以纾解地方货币流通困境。云南早期银币铸造基础薄弱，且受政局、财政等多重因素制约，币式几经更迭。我们所见这枚为云南省造三钱六分银币，系晚清云南省币厂后期制式，是滇省币制实践中流通更广、存世形制更具时代辨识度的品类。

In the long history of Chinese numismatic civilization spanning thousands of years, the machine-struck silver coins of the Qing Dynasty serve as important witnesses to the modernization of China's currency. Among them, the Guangxu Yuanbao series silver coins minted in Yunnan Province, with their distinctive regional characteristics, unique historical context, and exquisite coin designs, have become highly representative of late Qing numismatic culture in Southwest China. This Guangxu Yuanbao Kuping Sanqian Liufen silver coin minted in Yunnan Province carries the turbulent history of late Qing Yunnan and conceals the era's code of currency reform. Between its mottled patina and vigorous decorations, it tells a century-old historical story.

During the Guangxu period, Western monetary concepts were introduced to China through trade. The traditional square-holed coin system could not keep pace with the increasingly prosperous commercial circulation, prompting the Qing court to authorize provinces to mint their own machine-struck silver coins in order to alleviate local currency circulation challenges. Yunnan, with a weak early foundation in coin minting and constrained by political and financial factors, saw multiple changes in coin types. The coin in question, a three-mace six-fen silver coin minted in Yunnan Province, represents the later period issuance of the Yunnan provincial mint during the late Qing. It is a category that circulated widely and whose surviving forms carry the most recognizable features of the era in the practice of currency issuance in the province.

*本次藏品：云南省造光绪元宝*

典藏尺寸：重：13.2g直径：33.5mm

观此币正面，布局恪守清代官铸银币经典范式，又兼具滇地设计特色。外缘环绕楷书 “雲南省造” 四字，依币形弧度排布舒展，经岁月侵蚀，文字轮廓仍清晰完整。币心以细密圆点珠圈界定核心区域，圈内竖书雄浑规整的 “光緒元寶”，四字间镌有制式满文，镌刻工整，是清代中央铸币规制的体现。珠圈两侧饰有对称六瓣花星纹，为新云南银币的标志性符号；下缘刻纪重文字 “庫平三錢六分”，直观展现近代机制币标准化特点。币身覆有自然温润的老包浆，是流通摩挲与岁月氧化形成的原生痕迹，赋予钱币厚重的历史质感。

转至背面，核心为清代官式蟠龙纹样。圆点珠圈内盘踞威风凛凛的蟠龙，龙首威严、须发舒展，龙身盘绕，鳞纹细密清晰，龙爪遒劲，雕工精湛，既象征封建皇权，也承载着时人对国运的期许。珠圈外侧左右配与正面一致的花星纹，实现币面视觉呼应。币面包浆与正面浑然一体，龙纹沟壑间的深色氧化层与币面银质底色层次分明，纹饰细节保存完好，完整保留了流通银币的原生状态。

Observing the obverse of this coin, its layout strictly adheres to the classical model of Qing Dynasty official silver coins while also incorporating design characteristics distinctive to Yunnan. The outer rim is surrounded by the four characters in regular script, 'Made in Yunnan Province,' arranged along the coin's curvature in a relaxed manner. Despite the erosion of time, the contours of the characters remain clear and intact. The core area of the coin is defined by a dense circle of raised dots, within which the vertically inscribed, majestic and orderly four characters 'Guangxu Yuanbao' are placed, with standardized Manchu inscriptions engraved between them. The engraving is precise, representing the central minting regulations of the Qing Dynasty. On both sides of the pearl circle, symmetrical six-petal floral star patterns are adorned, serving as the emblematic symbols of the new Yunnan silver coin; at the lower edge, the inscribed weight and standard text 'Kuping Sanqian Liufen' directly display the features of standardized modern machine-struck coinage. The coin surface is covered with a naturally mellow old patina, formed through circulation wear and oxidation over time, endowing the coin with a profound sense of historical texture.

Turning to the reverse, the centerpiece features the official Qing Dynasty coiled dragon motif. Within the circle of raised dots, a majestic coiled dragon is depicted, with a dignified head, flowing whiskers and mane, a coiled body, finely detailed scales, and powerful claws; the craftsmanship is exquisite. The dragon symbolizes imperial authority and embodies the contemporary aspirations for the nation's fortune. Outside the pearl circle, floral star patterns identical to those on the obverse create a visual correspondence across the coin’s faces. The patina on the reverse seamlessly matches that of the obverse. The darker oxidized layers in the grooves of the dragon design contrast distinctly with the silver base layer of the coin, preserving intricate details of the motifs. This coin retains the original condition of circulated silver currency in its entirety.

*本次藏品：云南省造光绪元宝*

典藏尺寸：重：13.2g直径：33.5mm

从钱币收藏与文化价值来看，此枚云南省造光绪元宝库平三钱六分，集历史价值、艺术价值与民俗价值于一身。其币面设计融合了中原钱币文化传统与地域工艺特色，楷书文字、蟠龙纹样承袭清代官铸币规制，花星装饰则带有滇地铸币的独创设计，是中原文化向西南边陲传播、融合的实物佐证。工艺层面，清代机制币依靠雕版、冲压成型，此币纹饰细节完整，冲压力度均匀，珠圈规整，体现了当时滇省造币厂的工艺水准。历经百年流转，它从清末的流通货币，历经民国、近现代的时代变迁，褪去了交易媒介的实用属性，转而成为承载历史记忆的文化藏品，币身每一处磨损、每一缕包浆，都是时间镌刻的印记，见证了时代更迭、社会变迁。

From the perspective of numismatic collection and cultural value, this Yunnan Province Guangxu Yuanbao coin of 3.6 mace in weight embodies historical, artistic, and folkloric value. Its design integrates the cultural traditions of Central Plains coins with regional craftsmanship features. The regular script inscriptions and coiled dragon patterns follow the official minting regulations of the Qing Dynasty, while the floral and star decorations bear the original design characteristics of coinage from Yunnan, serving as tangible evidence of the transmission and integration of Central Plains culture to the southwestern frontier. In terms of craftsmanship, Qing Dynasty machine-struck coins relied on engraved dies and stamping for formation. This coin’s decorative details are well-preserved, the striking pressure is uniform, and the beaded border is orderly, reflecting the technical standards of the Yunnan mint at the time. Having circulated for over a century, this coin transitioned from a medium of exchange in the late Qing to a cultural collectible carrying historical memory through the Republican era to modern times. Every wear mark and patina on its surface is an imprint of time, witnessing the passage of eras and societal changes.

*本次藏品：云南省造光绪元宝*

典藏尺寸：重：13.2g直径：33.5mm

同时我们也应客观认知，云南省造光绪元宝三钱六分存世量相较于珍稀版别钱币更为可观，但其历史意义并不因此消减。它并非孤品奇珍，却是千千万万流通钱币中的一个缩影，是普通的、真实的、扎根于民间的历史物证。它没有宫廷器物的华贵，却带着烟火气，记录着清末滇地的市井商贸、边疆民生，让遥远的历史不再是史书上冰冷的文字，而是可触摸、可品鉴的实物遗存。

抚观此币，银质的币身在光影下泛着温润的微光，龙纹依旧昂首，文字依旧端正，百年时光未曾磨灭它承载的时代印记。一枚小小的三钱六分银币，一端连着晚清币制变革的时代浪潮，一端牵着西南边疆的烟火民生，于方寸之间，藏天地岁月，于纹饰笔墨之间，见时代风云。它是钱币，也是史书；是器物，也是记忆，静静诉说着清末云南大地的过往，也让后世之人得以透过这枚滇泉遗珍，窥见近代中国社会变迁的一隅，在品读钱币文化的同时，读懂一段沉淀百年的家国往事。

At the same time, we should objectively recognize that the existing quantity of Yunnan Province Guangxu Yuanbao coins weighing three mace and six candareens is relatively substantial compared to rarer coin types, yet this does not diminish their historical significance. It is not a unique treasure, but rather a microcosm of the millions of circulating coins—ordinary, authentic, and rooted in the lives of the people. It lacks the grandeur of courtly artifacts, yet carries the essence of everyday life, recording the urban commerce and border livelihoods of late-Qing Yunnan, making distant history no longer cold words in a book, but tangible, appreciable physical relics.

Observing this coin, the silver body emits a gentle luster under the light, the dragon motif still raises its head proudly, and the inscriptions remain upright and clear; a hundred years have not erased the era it represents. A small three mace and six candareens silver coin connects one end to the waves of monetary reforms in the late Qing, and the other end to the livelihoods of the southwestern frontier. Within this tiny space, it holds the years and world within, and through its patterns and inscriptions, one can glimpse the currents of the era. It is both coin and history; both artifact and memory, quietly recounting the past of Yunnan during the late Qing, while allowing future generations, through this treasured Yunnan coin, to glimpse a corner of modern China’s social transformation, understanding a century-old story of family and nation while appreciating the culture of coinage.

*本次藏品：云南省造光绪元宝*

典藏尺寸：重：13.2g直径：33.5mm

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