EMPIRE OF CHINA
GENUINE QING (CH’ING) OR MANCHU DYNASTY (1644-1912)
SICHUAN OR SHANXI PROVINCE
SYCEE DRUM OR KETTLEDRUM MONEY (PIAODING)
10 TAELS SILVER BAR - INGOT
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THE FIRST SYCEE (COMING FROM THE CHINESE WORD FOR “FINE SILVER”) INGOTS ARE DATED BY SOME SCHOLARS TO THE MONGOL (YUAN) DYNASTY (1279-1368 C.E.) OR EARLIER. THEY WERE MADE BY PRIVATE FIRMS AND USED TO FACILITATE THE STORAGE OF SILVER BY THE WEALTHY. OFFICIAL ASSSAYERS WOULD OFTEN STAMP THE INGOTS TO VERIFY THEIR QUALITY. DURING THE 19TH AND 20TH CENTURIES, EUROPEAN TRADE WITH CHINA REVITALIZED TRADE IN SYCEE, BUT THEY WERE EVENTUALLY BANNED BY THE REPUBLICAN GOVERNMENT.
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THE CHARACTERISTIC SHAPES WERE PECULIAR TO REGION AND DEPENDED ON THE MOLD, STAMPING AND CUTTING OF THE INGOT AND CAME IN STANDARDIZED WEIGHTS MEASURED IN TAELS.
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CHARACTERIZED BY AN OVAL ROUNDED HEMISHPHERE SHAPE WITH RAISED CONTINUOUS INNER RIM AND A RAISED "NIPPLE" FROM MOLD COOLING BY ROUNDED CRUCIBLE. THIS BASKET SHAPED SYCEE IS ASSAYER STAMPED THREE TIMES ON ITS INTERIOR BASIN.
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THIS TYPE OF SYCEE WAS OFTEN USED IN THE REMITTANCE OF TAXES.
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THIS INGOT'S PROVENANCE CAME FROM A COLLECTION IN THE UNITED STATES MORE THAN FORTY YEARS IN THE MAKING AND OWNED BY A RESPECTED COLLECTOR OF CHINESE NUMISMATICA. IT IS GUARANTEED ABSOLUTELY AUTHENTIC.
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10 TAEL SYCEE CONTAINS 355.4 GRAMS OF .960+ FINE SILVER (11.0+ OZS ASW)
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58 MM IN LENGTH, 52 MM IN WIDTH AND 27 MM IN HEIGHT
