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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Anthony H, post: 8317436, member: 76095&quot;]Here is one of my favorite coins in my personal collection. This coin is from my area of specialty, which are Sinkiang (Xinjiang) coins. This coin is a silver 5 miscal or 5 mace coin struck in AH1317 (1899).</p><p><br /></p><p>This coin is meaningful for me because I got it raw and submitted it, for my first time, to PCGS. Subtlety toned on the periphery with some golden color. Sharp characters with some crudeness to the rim.</p><p><br /></p><p>This is a more rare year and was struck at the Kashgar mint. Eight character obverse with the 喀什 Kashi denotation, rather than 喀造 Ka Zao.</p><p><br /></p><p><i>Here, we will introduce the LATER issue of the Sinkiang Kashgar silver 5 miscals that have the Chinese obverse and the Arabic reverse (known as the “mid period” issues). Briefly, the EARLY types with 6 characters and NO regional designation were struck between AH 1310 to AH 1313, in addition to an undated issue, while the LATER issues WITH the regional designations were struck from AH 1313 to AH 1322.</i></p><p><i><br /></i></p><p><i>This coin was minted in AH 1317/1899---this is evidently the scarcer year according to Krause and Lin and Ma. We can see the date, once again, on the reverse side’s upper left side. Here, the numbers are “1” + “3” top and bottom, and then “7+1” together when read left to right. When we rearrange it, it becomes “1317” on the Hejira calendar. Focusing on the obverse, we see the characters for the region: 喀什 or Ka Shi. This is different from 喀造 or Ka Zao, which is found in other LATER ISSUE miscal coins. Thus, whenever we collect these coins, we have to consider these differences in naming regional designation as they are considered as two types!</i></p><p><i><br /></i></p><p><i>The obverse has the legend of 光绪银圓 in the center and right is 喀什 and left is 伍钱 (with the official, not standard, five). This again, is standard in format and legend for nearly all “mid period” silver miscals. The reverse is the standard arabesque pattern of wreath (of 12 leaves per side) and flower. Arabic script denoting mint, denomination, composition, and most importantly year.</i></p><p><i><br /></i></p><p><i>This piece is PCGS graded AU 53, which is VERY HARD for a &quot;mid period&quot; issue to have! In fact, this coin has a population of 2 in AU 53 and 2 higher in AU 55. No MS! It is important to contextualize, as these dies were often not polished (anc constantly reused) and the machinery were water powered and often used a rudimentary and indigenous screw press. In other words, there were no steam powered milling machines in 1899. Nevertheless, this BEAUTIFUL coin has some remaining luster on both sides. Crisp characters and denticles, though interestingly, the leaves are not fully struck with its deep veins. Lower 6 o&#039;clock position on reverse, error in striking (breakage or crack).</i></p><p><br /></p><p>References: Lin and Ma 710; Krause Y-19a[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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