Besides Guangdong and Hubei, which other provinces produced Guangxu Yuanbao coins that could be worth | Gu Jin Jian Bao
When "Guangxu Yuanbao" is mentioned, most people immediately think of those from Guangdong and Hubei Provinces – these two indeed have the largest circulating quantities and are the most active in the market. However, those with true million-dollar potential are actually from a few "unpopular" provinces with extremely limited mintage.
Guangxu Yuanbao Rare Varieties with Million-Dollar Potential
1. Fengtian Province Guangxu Yuanbao (Guimao One Tael)
Minted experimentally by the Fengtian Silver Dollar Bureau in 1903 (the Guimao year), with a denomination of "one tael" (not the common 7 mace and 2 candareens). It was a product of the Qing government's "abolishing yuan and reverting to tael" controversy. Extremely rare, with fewer than 5 known pieces in existence. In 2023, it sold for over RMB 15,000,000 at Beijing ChengXuan Auctions.
The scarcity of this coin stems from policy disputes – the Qing government was embroiled in a debate between "using the yuan system for silver dollars" or "reverting to the tael system." These experimental coins were ultimately not officially issued due to the policy's cancellation.
2. Hunan Province Guangxu Yuanbao (7 Mace 2 Candareens)
Minted experimentally by the Hunan Silver Dollar Bureau in 1897, with extremely limited mintage. This coin is special because the Hunan Bureau later ceased operations due to insufficient funds, making the already minted silver coins a discontinued rarity. High-grade pieces have sold for over RMB 5,000,000.
3. Shaanxi Province Guangxu Yuanbao
The plan for establishing the Shaanxi Silver Dollar Bureau ultimately did not materialize, but a small number of pattern coins were already commissioned and produced by the Birmingham Mint in the UK. Only an estimated 10-20 pieces exist, representing a rare case of "planned bureau, no production."
4. Zhejiang Province Guangxu Yuanbao (Regular Script Version)
There are two versions of the Zhejiang Guangxu Yuanbao: regular script and running script. The regular script version has extremely limited mintage, and the running script version is also not abundant. The overall existing quantity of Zhejiang Province issues is far lower than that of Guangdong and Hubei, with even common VF-grade pieces reaching over HK$50,000.
Price Difference Between Common Provinces vs. Unpopular Provinces
| Province | VF25 Common Version | Rare Version/High Grade | Estimated Quantity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guangdong | HK$3,000 | HK$15,000 | Hundreds of thousands |
| Hubei | HK$3,500 | HK$20,000 | Hundreds of thousands |
| Beiyang | HK$4,000 | HK$25,000 | Tens of thousands |
| Jiangnan | HK$5,000 | HK$40,000 | Tens of thousands |
| Sichuan | HK$4,500 | HK$35,000 | Tens of thousands |
| Yunnan | HK$5,500 | HK$50,000 | Thousands |
| Zhejiang | HK$50,000 | HK$300,000+ | Hundreds |
| Hunan | N/A (Pattern) | HK$5,000,000+ | <10 pieces |
Practical Advice
Over 95% of Guangxu Yuanbao coins found by ordinary families clearing out their homes are common issues from Guangdong, Hubei, and Beiyang, with values ranging from HK$3,000 to HK$15,000. However, if it happens to be a version from an unpopular province, its value can multiply by dozens of times. Therefore, the first step after finding a Guangxu Yuanbao is to confirm the province of mintage – you can do this by looking at the province name at the top of the obverse side.
Unsure which province your Guangxu Yuanbao was minted in? WhatsApp 98342057 with photos, and Gujin Jianbao will help you identify it for free.
