Selling or Buying Chinese Silver Dollars and Dragon Coins

Provincial Dragon Dollars

The Chinese provincial dollar series began in the 1890s as regional authorities adopted Western-style silver coinage. Chihli Province issued its first dollar in 1896, followed by Anhwei and Chekiang provinces in 1897. These provincial issues represented a departure from traditional Chinese currency, featuring dragons and Western denominations alongside Chinese characters.

Chihli Province produced some of the most varied early dollars. The 1897 issues include several distinct varieties: Triangle Eyes, Dotted Triangle Eyes, and the Dog-Head Dragon type. Production continued through 1903, with later issues showing refinements like the "Period after YANG" variety and the Scrolled 9 denomination marker.

Anhwei Province dollars from 1897-1898 show their own peculiarities. The 1897 issue exists with and without the "7.MACE" inscription, referring to the traditional Chinese weight measurement. The 1898 dollars come in Large Rosette, Small Rosette, and ASTC varieties, each representing different die states or mint practices.

Chekiang Province maintained a simpler approach. Their dollars from 1897, 1898, and 1902 generally lack the sub-varieties seen in other provinces, though this may reflect incomplete cataloging rather than actual uniformity.

Republic Period Yuan

The fall of the Qing Dynasty in 1912 brought new coinage under the Republic of China. Yuan Shikai dollars became the standard, featuring the president's profile instead of imperial dragons. These yuan continued the silver dollar tradition but with republican symbolism.

Production of republican yuan varied significantly by year and mint. Some issues show the crossed flags design on the reverse, while others feature different republican emblems. The series continued through the 1920s and 1930s, with various warlords and regional authorities issuing their own versions.

Collecting Modern China

We track over 115,000 Chinese coin auction records, spanning everything from Qing dragon dollars to modern People's Republic issues. The provincial dollars remain among the most collected, partly due to their historical significance and partly because of the variety within each province's output.

Condition matters significantly with these silver dollars. The soft silver shows wear quickly, and many examples suffered from circulation or poor storage. High-grade provincial dollars command strong collector interest, particularly the scarcer varieties like the Chihli Dog-Head Dragon or the Anhwei ASTC type.

Authentication presents ongoing challenges. The popularity of Chinese silver dollars has led to extensive reproduction, some quite sophisticated. Having handled numerous examples over the years, we see certain telltale signs in genuine pieces that reproductions struggle to replicate.

Whether you collect by province, by emperor, or by design type, Chinese silver dollars offer substantial depth. The L&M catalog system provides the standard reference, though new varieties surface occasionally at auction. For questions about Chinese silver dollars or to discuss your collection, call 973-378-1690 or visit us at 13 West Main St, Mendham NJ.