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theo
Penny Hoarding Member
USA
588 Posts |
 Posted - 04/17/2010 : 19:26:37
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I was at the flea market today and I bought a Chinese dollar coin off an older gentleman for $2. He said that he didn't know what it was and that, "it could have some silver in it." Since its about the size and weight of a Morgan and has silver edges, I thought it was worth a shot for $2.
After a quick internet search I found that this coin is likely a Chinese Dragon Dollar. The information below is interesting and seems to indicate that it is a silver coin, but it doesn't say how much Ag is in it and whether it has any nuimismatic value.
Anyway, I was wondering if any of you knew anything more about this coin.
You must be logged in to see this link.
"DRAGON DOLLAR
The First Modern Circulation Coin
The Dragon Dollar, the first machine-struck silver dollar in Chinese coinage, was issued during the reign of Emperor Kwang-Hsu (1875 to 1908). It was cast by Canton Mint in Kwantung Province the southern port of China for Western merchants.
Before the circulation of the Dragon Dollar, trades in China used to be conducted through the exchange of silver Taels which had to be weighed on each purchase. After the Opium War (1840 to 1842), Western merchants with their coins began to appear in China. The convenience, beautiful designs, and assigned values of the foreign coins, plus the heavy losses caused by the exchange of the Chinese 100% pure silver Tael for these coins containing only 90% pure silver, forced the Chinese to reform their coinage.
Realizing that the outgoing of large amounts of Chinese silver was causing China serious economic problems, Lin Cher-Hsu, a provincial governor suggested to Emperor Tao-Kwang (1821 to 1850) that China should make their own machine-struck silver dollar, but it was rejected. Later, Chang Chi-Tung, the governor of Kwangtung, and Kwansi Provinces, made the same suggestion to Emperor Kwang-Hsui, and it was approved. In 1890, the Dragon Dollar was officially issued.
The production of the Dragon dollar changed the traditional Chinese coinage in three ways. First, the coin was machine-made instead of hand-made. Secondly, the silver was struck into a circular coin instead of a shoe shaped ingot. Thirdly, the design of the coin was changed; in the middle of the coin there was no longer a square hole which had existed in Chinese Copper Coins since the Ching Dynasty (221 to 207 B.C.)."
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Edited by - theo on 04/17/2010 19:27:20 |
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Kurr
1000+ Penny Miser Member
2906 Posts |
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theo
Penny Hoarding Member
USA
588 Posts |
Posted - 04/17/2010 : 20:40:15
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| I just checked and it does stick to the magnet. Perhaps its a knock off. Darn. I agree though, it is cool looking coin. I think I'll add it to my "rip me off" stash. |
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thogey
1000+ Penny Miser Member
USA
1617 Posts |
Posted - 04/17/2010 : 20:44:24
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| I'm so sick and tired of all this chinese B.S.! |
Come to the new and improved realcent: http://realcent.org
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drpineapple
New Member
22 Posts |
Posted - 06/03/2010 : 01:15:27
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| I have a real one bought in China 20 yrs ago that doesn't stick to a magnet, sounds like silver and appears to be copper due to the grease/dirt from the age but should be silver. |
Edited by - drpineapple on 06/03/2010 01:37:36 |
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PennyPauper
Penny Collector Member
USA
395 Posts |
Posted - 06/03/2010 : 08:34:34
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My daughter loves dragons so I've been down this road too.She has a intrest in coins also so when her B-day came around I thought it would be a perfect gift.After alot of research I found out about the fakes You must be logged in to see this link.
After a long search I ended up buying a .999 silver round with a dragon on it from a wonderful member here,and was able to give it to her for Christmas.And a few weeks ago I was at the local coin shop and a customer was selling a few chinese old coins,all were fakes,I ended up buying a few for .50cents each just to have a example.
I too am fed up with the chinese BS. |
Available again! $100 of Copper Lincoln Memorials for $145 shipped. |
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Chinese (silver?) Dragon Dollar
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