Qing Dynasty. Kuang-hsü Shangdong Gaobianbao ("High-Sided") Sycee of 50 Taels ND (1875-1908) Certified XF45 by Gong Bo Grading, Kürkman, Ottoman Silver Marks, pg. 69, Fig. 146 (this piece illustrated), cf. Cribb-IX.A.77 (different added stamps, different smith), Tai, Sycee Online, Sd50/7, Tang-511 (different added stamp). 114x65mm. 1842gm. Stamped in three sections, the top row reading: "Dong Hai Guan" (Shandong Maritime Customs), the right column reading: "Guan Xu Nian Yue" (Kuang-hsü Period), and the left reading: "Jiang Lu Xie Zhong" (smith Lu Xiezhong). There is an additional round stamp in the center, which we have been unable to read. A particularly challenging 50 Tael-type, this being just the third such example we have offered, and the first of this sub-class. Though showing scattered contact across the face, the sides and edges appear highly original, free of any serious bumps, knocks, or bending, while the whole of the piece is deeply patinated to a deep battleship gray. We would note that this this same smith is also know to have operated during the early Republic (see Tai, Sycee Online, Sd50/8), perhaps suggesting that this ingot was produced towards the end of Kuang-hsü's reign.

HID09801242017

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