Chinese ID help

laurentyvan

Hi, just looking for confirmation on this coin- Kirin provence, 50 cents, 1901-05? Look, I admit it's ugly but God it has character!

lmking304

I can't help you confirm it, but I agree on character! I like it!

sumnom

It is indeed dated 1905 and it is from Kirin Province. It looks like Y#182a.1 but the calligraphy is different.

Blackhawk

The clouds around the top of the dragon and the pearl do not seem to match up to the picture in my Krause for that coin, but I guess that doesn't mean much...they've been known to have a few mistakes in each issue.

sumnom

There are probably more varieties than Krause indicates.

satootoko

Approximately 34mm?

About 13.1g of silver (fineness not specified)?

The only 1905 listed in Krause 35th Ed. is Y#182.a.1, which has a yin/yang in the obverse center. To me, under the damage the picture looks more like the virtually identical design with Manchu words in the center. If my eyes aren't deceiving me, it might be Y#182.b, which is listed as a one-year 1908 issue.

In VG the 1905 is valued at $7, and the 1908 is listed at $25.

BTW Krause displays the dragon as being the reverse.

sumnom

It's dated 1905, for sure.

laurentyvan

Thanks all, I couldn't decide on the date but I did think it was 182a.1 and if so the yin/yang symbol was a redesign but who could tell?

Any idea how plentiful this might be in a better grade?

satootoko

<< <i>It's dated 1905, for sure. >>

Well, I've never caught you in an error, but Krause on the other hand . . .

sumnom

Oh, Satootoko, I think you have caught me in errors before. No need to be so modest!