Impressive Double Imperial Dragon Twenty-Five Liǎng

Triton XIV, Lot: 1233. Estimate $50000. Sold for $35000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

CHINA, Empire. Qīng (Ch’ing) Dynasty. Tóngzhì (T’ung-Chih). 1861-1875. AV Fantasy 25 Liǎng (Tael). Imperial Dragon type. Uncertain mint, possibly Shànghǎi. Dually-dated cyclical year 8-8 and RY 10 (1871, though most likely struck circa 1919). (star) EMPIRE OF CHINA (star)/25-TAEL/“zhí nìan wǔ liǎng jīn,” (Value of 20 and 5 liǎng in gold) in Hànzì, two flying imperial dragons facing one another, coiled outward and surrounded by stylized clouds; between, “nián shí tóng zhì wèi xīn,” (Year 10 of Tóngzhì and xīnwèi [cyclical date]) in Hànzì and below fireball / Sixteen-armed Mahākāla seated facing on couch of lotus flowers; around, two flying imperial dragons facing one another, coiled outward and surrounded by stylized clouds; fireball above, lotus flower below; all within decorative border. L&M -; cf. Kann B102 (50 Tael); Friedberg -; KM -; X-M465. In NGC slab graded MS 63, lustrous. Extremely rare and historically interesting.

From the Patrick H.C. Tan Collection. Ex Hong Kong Coin Auction 39 (2 September 2004), lot 483; Spink-Taisei 3 (11 February 1988), lot 159 (cover coin).

A curious piece part of a group of gold issues struck in denominations of 25 and 50 tael, this fantasy medal, along with the rest of its series, have possessed a mysterious origin for nearly a century. Clearly not a part of the regular Chinese imperial coinage, these pieces feature a similar obverse with legends indicating that they were made during the reign of T’ung-Chih, though craftsmanship would point toward a later production date. One of the 50 tael pieces bears the cyclical date of 1869, while also an indication of a 50th anniversary (X-M455). Accordingly, a date of manufacture around 1919 is much more likely. The reason for their production is believed to have been for private use among merchants in Shanghai, though their precise attribution and purpose remains unknown.

Equally as curious, however, is the iconography of the series—of which this piece is an excellent example. The obverse features two intricate dragons in pursuit of a fireball, as well as a combination of legends in English and Hànzì. The issue is back-dated to the reign of T’ung-Chih not only in reference to the tenth regnal year of his niánhào (era name), but also in reference to the cyclical year xīnwèi (corresponding to AD 1871). The reverse is anepigraphic, and features a sixteen-armed bodhisattva representing the Tantric deity Mahakala, seated upon a couch of lotus flowers and holding a variety of implements within its hands. Two more intricate dragons surround the deity, again in pursuit of a fireball. The precise meaning of Mahakala on this issue, as well as others within the series, is uncertain. Within Tantric Buddhism, Mahakala is considered to be the manifestation of Avalokiteśvara, and is seen as a protective deity present at the entrances of many Buddhist monasteries.