| There are too many recognized varieties of the Szechuan rupee coins (or Sichuan rupee). Szechuan Rupees were divided into four main editions (Type 1 to Type 4) with about 42 variations.
They come in a variety of designs, ranging from simple to intricate. These varieties are usually not identified by even the Chinese collectors for lack of references. I am a casual coin collector only, I learn the varieties of the Szechuan rupees from other fellew collectors. Please view the below Szechuan rupee specimens, most of them come from my fellow collectors. Thanks indeed to my friends! |
Marks of Rareness of the Collected Currencies
Extremely Rare A ~ Very Rare B ~ Rare C ~ Not So Many D ~ Common E
| Obverse | Reverse | Close Up | Description |
By courtesy of 魏老三先生 |
By courtesy of 魏老三先生 |
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No. 353 |
| Diam. 30 mm | |||
| Fineness. 85% | |||
| Wt. 11.8 g. | |||
| Rareness B | |||
| Mint Evolution and Peculiarity | |||
| This is a very rare Szechuan Rupee. It is known as 蝴蝶花 Butterfly Rupee by the Chinese collector. Please view the close-up picture, you can find a butterfly inscribed in the floral patterns on the reverse. This coin belongs to the early type of Szechuan Rupee. It is always a pleasure and very exciting to study closely of the variations in detail of a coin design. |
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| Obverse | Reverse | Close Up | Description |
By courtesy of Mr. YZM |
By courtesy of Mr. YZM |
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No. 385 |
| Diam. 30.5 mm | |||
| Fineness. 85% | |||
| Wt. 11.5 g. | |||
| Rareness B | |||
| Mint Evolution and Peculiarity | |||
| This is another very rare Szechuan Rupee. It is known as 耳下點或五節辮 "Dot below Ear or 5 portions Queue" by the Chinese collector. The obverse of this coin bears a profile of Emperor Kuang Hsu (This is known as the Type 1 Kuang Hsu profile by the Chinese collectors). Please view the close-up picture, you can find a dot lacated below the ear on the profile, and also his queue is consist of five portions. [Normally, the Type 1 Kuang Hsu profile appears with four portions queue only.]
On the reverse there is a horizontal rosette located in the center. This coin belongs to the early type of Szechuan Rupee. |
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| Obverse | Reverse | Close Up | Description |
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No. 386 |
| Diam. 30.3 mm | |||
| Fineness. 85% | |||
| Wt. 11.6 g. | |||
| Rareness C | |||
| Mint Evolution and Peculiarity | |||
On the obverse of this rupee is a Type 2 Emperor Kuang Hsu profile, but on the reverse this rupee has used a Type 3 floral pattern design. You can find the first Chinese character
"Szu" shaped with 2 opposit strokes in a slanting position pointed to each other inside the rectange on the reverse.
This coin is known as 二三錯配 "The Type 2 mixed wrongly with the Type 3" by the Chinese collector.
On the reverse there is a vertical rosette located in the center. This coin belongs to the early type of Szechuan Rupee. |
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| Obverse | Reverse | Close Up | Description |
By courtesy of 魏老三先生 |
By courtesy of 魏老三先生 |
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No. 387 |
| Diam. 30.5 mm | |||
| Fineness. 85% | |||
| Wt. 11.5 g. | |||
| Rareness B | |||
| Mint Evolution and Peculiarity | |||
| This is a new found edition of the Szechuan rupee variations. It is known as 頂前寶珠 "The Convey Pearl" by the Chinese collector. You can find a convey pearl located in front of the emperor's neck from the close-up picture.
The obverse of this coin bears a profile of Emperor Kuang Hsu (This edition of profile belongs to the Type 1 Szechuan rupee coin). The profile appears with a formal design of four portions queue only.
On the reverse there is a horizontal rosette located in the center. This coin belongs to the early type of Szechuan Rupee. |
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