The"Five Dragons Compete"of the Third Year of Xuantong: Appreciation and Value of the Coiled Dragon, | Gu Jin Jian Bao
Xuantong Three Years Great Qing Silver Coins "Five Dragons Compete for Supremacy": Appreciation and Value Comparison
The complete set of Great Qing silver coins from the third year of Xuantong includes denominations of one yuan, fifty cents, twenty cents, and ten cents. Among them, the "fifty cents, twenty cents, and ten cents" feature the majestic "standing dragon" (or "flying dragon") design. However, the most fiercely contested in the collecting community are the five types of coiled dragon designs on the "one yuan" coin.
I. The Final Circulating Specimen: Curved Whisker Dragon
The Curved Whisker Dragon was the standard specimen (circulating version) that was finally selected and actually circulated among the Great Qing silver coins from the third year of Xuantong.
- Design Features: As its name suggests, its dragon whiskers are curved and extend to both sides. The divine dragon soars through the clouds, a truly beautiful design. Its curved whiskers inherit the distinctive whiskers of the water dragon from the second year of Xuantong.
- Value Positioning: As it is a circulating version, the Curved Whisker Dragon has a relatively high mintage. Its market value primarily depends on its condition and grading score.
II. Foremost Among Rare Treasures: Short Whisker Dragon
Among the five dragons, the Short Whisker Dragon is often considered one of the rarest versions due to its extremely low mintage.
- Design Features: The dragon head is positioned at the top, with a larger vertical horn on the dragon's right side. It has a high nose and protruding eyes, with two short whiskers hanging naturally. Although the composition is similar to the Long Whisker Dragon, the difference lies in its extremely short whiskers. Its edge features straight milling.
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Scarcity and Value: According to available data, the Short Whisker Dragon has the lowest mintage.
- In 2004, a Short Whisker Dragon proof coin was sold for a high price of 1.188 million RMB at a Beijing Hachen Spring Auction.
- The reference price for a Short Whisker Dragon One Yuan silver coin is approximately 18,000 RMB (this is a reference base price; extremely fine condition or proof coins have very high values).
- Collector's Perspective: Proof coins of the Short Whisker Dragon are highly sought after in the market, ranking among the most cherished in Chinese machine-struck coin collecting.
III. Unique Hidden Mark: Long Whisker Dragon
The Long Whisker Dragon, like the Short Whisker Dragon, is a trial coin, highly prized for its exquisite design and limited mintage.
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Design Features: The dragon head is large. Two dragon whiskers hang down, reaching between the characters"Yi Yuan "(One Yuan) in the center, making them the longest whiskers among the five coin designs.
- Exclusive Hidden Mark:On the reverse side of the coin, below the Manchu character for"Bi"(coin), there is a"crescent moon" hidden mark.
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Scarcity and Value: The Long Whisker Dragon is one of the six or seven designs from the third year of Xuantong. Due to the fact that most were not officially issued, their mintage is scarce.
- Only two gold proof coins of the Long Whisker Dragon exist, one of which was auctioned for a high price of 1.76 million RMB.
- The reference price for a silver Long Whisker Dragon One Yuan silver coin is approximately 88,000 RMB.
IV. Divine Dragon Seen Head but Not Tail: Reverse Dragon (Right-tailed Dragon)
The Reverse Dragon (also known as Reverse S Dragon or Right-tailed Dragon) is the design with the most visual contrast among the five dragons, and its rarity is equally high.
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Design Features: Compared to the common circulating version (Curved Whisker Dragon), the biggest difference is that the dragon's body is not "S" shaped; the direction of the dragon's body is exactly opposite. The tail of the circulating version is on the left, while the tail of the Reverse Dragon is on the right.
- Unique Feature: The Reverse Dragon is the only version without a tail, earning it the moniker "divine dragon seen head but not tail."
- Scarcity and Value: This version has an extremely low mintage.
V. Broad Dragon Tail: Big Tail Dragon
While the overall design of the Big Tail Dragon is similar to the circulating Curved Whisker Dragon, its key features are easily identifiable.
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Design Features: The dragon's scales are large and neatly arranged. A central dragon whisker extends straight into the clouds.
- Key Detail: The dragon's tail is noticeably broad. Additionally, the number of dragon filaments in the tail of the dragon design is greater than that of the common dragon, with a total of 11 dragon filaments, neatly arranged.
- Value Positioning: It belongs to the trial design category, with a market reference price of approximately 8,000 RMB (this is a reference base price; proof coins are higher).
Gujin Jianbao Professional Summary: The Essence of the Five Dragons' Value
| Dragon Version | Core Features | Scarcity/Market Positioning | Proof Coin Transaction Record (RMB Reference) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Short Whisker Dragon | Shortest whiskers, large vertical horns, straight milled edge | One of the rarest proof coins, extremely low mintage. | Silver proof: 1.188 million (2004). |
| Long Whisker Dragon | Longest whiskers, hanging between"Yi Yuan "characters, has a"crescent moon"hidden mark. | Rare proof coin, meticulously designed by the engraver. | Gold proof: 1.76 million (2004). |
| Reverse Dragon | Reverse S-shaped body, tail on the right, no tail. | Proof coin, extremely rare, with unique visual characteristics. | Scarce mintage, price fluctuates with condition. |
| Big Tail Dragon | Noticeably broad dragon tail, with 11 dragon filaments. | Proof coin, less rare than Long Whisker and Short Whisker. | Silver coin reference price: 8,000 RMB. |
| Curved Whisker Dragon | Curved whiskers, standard circulating version. | Highest actual circulation. | Price depends on high-grade condition. |
Recycler's Value Judgment:
- Proof Coins Reign Supreme: The core value of Xuantong 3 silver coins lies in their status as proof coins (trial strikes). The Long Whisker Dragon, Short Whisker Dragon, Reverse Dragon, and Big Tail Dragon all fall into this category, while the non-proof Curved Whisker Dragon has a relatively lower value.
- Condition Determines Fate: Even for rare varieties, if they have undergone improper cleaning or processing, such as polishing or abrasive cleaning, they may receive "92" (improperly cleaned) or "94" (coin surface altered) no-grade codes in evaluations by professional grading agencies (such as PCGS), resulting in the coin not receiving a grade at all. For recyclers, ungraded coins will have significantly reduced value. A silver coin with no wear and complete details (e.g., PCGS MS-65 and above) may be worth far more than a rare variety in poor condition.
- Master the Details: We must be able to distinguish the subtle differences between these varieties. For example, the "crescent moon hidden mark" of the Long Whisker Dragon, the "high nose and protruding eyes" of the Short Whisker Dragon, and whether they are genuine trial proof coins rather than later imitations.
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