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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Al Kowsky, post: 3646202, member: 97383&quot;]I bought the hand wrought coin silver ashtray pictured below in Santa Barbara, CA in 1971 along with 6 sycee ingots for the melt value of silver <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie8" alt=":D" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />. The ashtray was probably made in the 1920s, is 3.875 in. in diameter, &amp; weighs 76.5 gm. It has a one yuan (silver dollar) coin dated 1914, &amp; pictures Yuan Shikai, 1st president of the Republic of China. The reverse has the stamped hallmarks of the silversmith to the left of the coins denomination. Collectors affectionately call these &quot;Fat Man Dollars.&quot; </p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp; When the Qing Dynasty was overthrown on February 12, 1912, two factions fought for control of the new republic, the Kuomintang (KMT) lead by Sun Yat-sen, &amp; the Nanjing Provisional Senate lead by Yuan Shikai. Yuan managed to gain control &amp; conducted a rigged election making himself 1st president of the republic. Yuan cracked down on the KMT &amp; forced Sun Yat-sen to flee to Japan. Yuan turned out to be the wrong man for the job <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie79" alt=":rage:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />. He was well known among the public for his corruption, narcissism, &amp; cruelty. During the Boxer Rebellion Yuan sided with the foreign powers instead of backing his own people. His forces massacred tens of thousands of his own people during the rebellion in Zhili Province <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie9" alt=":eek:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />. As president his lavish spending on luxury goods increased the ire of the public. Yuan was married &amp; had 9 concubines, who bore him 17 sons <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie11" alt=":rolleyes:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />. Sensing his power was beginning to weaken, Yuan attempted to re-institute Confucian ideas from the old monarchy of the Qing Dynasty. He believed by restoring the old monarchy he &amp; his regime would be well entrenched to control the angry public. The Empire of China was set to begin on January 1, 1916, with Yuan assuming the title of Hongzian Emperor <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie85" alt=":smuggrin:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />. This was the straw that broke the camels back <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie57" alt=":jawdrop:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />! Wide spread opposition was growing among the public &amp; many of the world powers who had financial interests in China. Yuan was forced to abandon his ambitious scheme 83 days later &amp; resign as president <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie3" alt=":(" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />. He died of uremia on June 6, 1916, at the age of 56. </p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp; The silversmith who made this ashtray had a not so subtle message for the owner <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie7" alt=":p" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />; the smoker using this ashtray would butt out his cigarette on the image of Yuan, &amp; cover it with ashes <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie52" alt=":hilarious:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />. What a great way to express your indignation &amp; hatred for such a vile man. </p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]979203[/ATTACH] </p><p>[ATTACH=full]979204[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]979205[/ATTACH] </p><p>References: <i>Standard Catalog of </i>WORLD COINS, 1801-1991, 18th edition, Chester L. Krause, &amp; Clifford Mishler.</p><p><br /></p><p>The Far East, A History of Western Impacts and Eastern Responses, 1830-1975. Paul H. Clyde &amp; Burton F. Beers</p><p><br /></p><p>Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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