China: Hsüan-t'ung silver Specimen Pattern "Short-Whiskered Dragon" Dollar Year 3 (1911) SP64+ PCGS,...
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Hsüan-t'ung silver Specimen Pattern "Short-Whiskered Dragon" Dollar Year 3 (1911) SP64+ PCGS, Tientsin mint, KM-Pn307 (Rare), L&M-30 (this coin), Kann-224, Chang Foundation-34 (this coin), Chang-29 (Extremely Rare). A coin of mythic proportions, an absolute apex of Chinese numismatics -- the legendary "Short-Whiskered" Dragon. Part of the well-recognized 1911 Ta Ching dollar patterns from the Central Mint in Tientsin, this type was produced during a transformative period in Chinese monetary history, as the imperial government worked toward a unified national coinage. Under the direction of chief engraver Luigi Giorgi, a series of experimental dollar designs was created, each featuring a similar obverse (reverse as holdered) paired with varying dragon motifs on the reverse (obverse as holdered). These patterns represent the final phase of Qing Dynasty coinage, struck on the eve of the dynasty's collapse. Among these, the "Short-Whiskered" variety wields an acute magnetism. This dragon displays a broader, more forceful head with noticeably shorter whiskers, measuring roughly nine millimeters in length, in contrast to the longer, more delicate whiskers seen on the related and more attainable "Long-Whiskered" type. This compact and powerful rendering gives the "Short-Whiskered" dragon a markedly different visual character, a youthful ferocity that is all but absent from its venerable "Long-Whiskered" cousin. The rarity of this "Short Whiskered" type cannot be overstated. Early numismatic research recorded only a handful of examples, and even today the total number of confirmed specimens remains exceptionally small. Of the eight documented survivors only three are privately owned, this example being the first on public offer since its appearance in the Chang Foundation Collection, and it remains the only example certified across PCGS and NGC. For all its absolute rarity, it is just as notable to understand how appealing this piece is in hand. Glistening surfaces ...
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