Long-Whisker Dragon Pattern Dollar
photo: Stack's Bowers
CHINA. Silver Long-Whisker Dragon Dollar Pattern, Year 3 (1911). Tientsin Mint, by L. Giorgi. NGC SPECIMEN-65
The single finest certified of the type at either NGC or PCGS. Large characters variety, known as "Ordinary reverse", also the floral design on the reverse at 3 and 9 o'clock is slightly different from other 1911 pattern dollars. An EXTREMELY RARE pattern with the adopted reverse design, the same as used on the on the standard Dragon in the clouds Empire Dollar. A fantastic rarity missing from most of the significant collections of Chinese coins, private or institutions, such as the famous Irving Goodman, Dr. Norman Jacobs and Chang foundation collections. The piece exhibits a needle sharp strike with crisp well defined devices, blocked off characters and smooth surfaces. Delicate light patina graces the peripherals of the obverse while the reverse displays a light mottled tone. A magnificent representative of the type certain to pique the interest of the connoisseur of Chinese coins, World Crowns or Pattern Collectors.
photo: Stack's Bowers
The head of the Central mint at Tientsin, Mr. Luigi Giorgi, served as head designer and chief-engraver from 1910-20. His many works are of outstanding quality in fine style and very artistic. Examples of his work include all of the 1911 pattern Dollars (L&M-28 through 35A), the 1910 silver Dollars and subsidiary denominations (L&M-24 through 27), 1914 Yuan Shih-kai patterns (L&M-67 through 73) as well as various other silver and copper issues. Several of his pattern designs were adopted and placed into full production with two of the most widely recognized motifs in Chinese numismatics being the 1911 Dragon in the clouds Imperial Dollar and the 1914 Yuan Shih-kai Dollar. Mr. Giorgi had the privilege of designing and creating the last Chinese Imperial issue which saw use well into the Republic.
