Do not clean the Guangxu Yuanbao you have just found
Leave the coin in its present holder or place it on a clean, inert surface. Give it a reference number before taking any close-up, measurement or packaging photograph.
- Both faces — show the whole rim and copy the visible province or mint, date and full Kuping denomination.
- Dragon side — retain the dragon, surrounding lettering, punctuation, border and denticles in one level frame.
- Complete edge — photograph overlapping sections from a fixed starting point, noting reeding, seams, knocks, holes, solder or filing.
A single image, magnet reaction or family nickname cannot establish authenticity. Begin with an evidence set that a coin specialist can retrace.
Transcribe the coin before searching for a match
Write visible characters in order, marking worn, cropped or holder-obscured passages. Do not fill a missing provincial name from a similar dragon dollar online.
Photograph the inscription and dragon with neutral light, then use raking light for relief and surface texture. Retain the unedited original files.
Make weight and diameter useful
Show the scale at zero and keep its unit and decimal places in the frame. Record diameter and thickness with the tool and contact position, without squeezing the rim.
Repeat a surprising reading under the same setup and preserve both values. Catalogue specifications are comparisons, not replacements for measured evidence.
If a holder prevents a safe measurement, state the limitation. Do not pry open a stable slab or old fitted capsule merely to obtain a number.
Describe what happened to the surface
Separate stable toning, high-point wear, weak strike, scratches, wiping hairlines and cleaning-related brightness. A dark field should not be polished to make the dragon sharper.
Map chops, perforations, rim bruises, solder and possible jewellery mounting on a full view before adding close details.
Record old envelopes and family stories as provenance, keeping their dates and wording distinct from physical observations on the coin.
Know when photographs have reached their limit
Images can establish inscriptions, main design and obvious damage. Metal, fine tooling, concealed edge work and subtle surface treatment may still require direct examination.
Define the remaining question before arranging an inspection. ‘Province character under holder lip’ is more useful than a request for a general verdict.
Prepare a safe specialist handover
Reconcile both faces, edge run, dimensions, holder and provenance against the number. Keep proposed attribution and condition notes in separate sections.
Do not promise authenticity or value from photographs alone. A careful description should show which claims are confirmed, provisional or still untested.
For multiple finds, number and photograph every coin independently before grouping by visible province, denomination or dragon design.
Retain the first readings when later equipment changes a measurement. Date the new attempt and explain the different setup rather than overwriting evidence.
At handover, protect the edge and surface from rubbing. No dip, polish, file, acid or scratch test is needed to make the Guangxu Yuanbao assessable.
