銀幣的產生與發展已經有六百多年的歷史。據史料介紹，起源于15世紀的銀元，始鑄于歐洲，又稱“洋錢”、“花邊錢”或“大洋”，是世界上銀本位制國家主要的流通貨幣。到了16世紀，銀元開始向我國流入。民國之后，銀元更是被定為主要流通幣成為近代幣收藏的重要幣種之一。清朝的官鑄銀元始于1890年，并從廣東省起步。1893年以后，湖北、江蘇、福建等省紛紛仿效廣東省，鑄造了屬于自己的銀元貨幣。1910年9月以后，清政府發布“幣制則例”，規定了以銀元(含銀七錢二分)為國幣。
Silver coin has a history of more than 600 years. According to historical materials, silver dollar, which originated in the 15th century, was first cast in Europe, also known as "foreign money", "lace money" or "ocean". It is the main currency in circulation in the world's silver standard countries. In the 16th century, silver began to flow into China. After the Republic of China, silver dollar was regarded as the main currency in circulation and became one of the important currencies in modern coin collection. The official casting of silver yuan in Qing Dynasty began in 1890 and started in Guangdong Province. After 1893, Hubei, Jiangsu, Fujian and other provinces followed the example of Guangdong Province and forged their own silver coins. After September 1910, the Qing government issued the "rules of currency system", which stipulated that silver yuan (including seven and two parts of silver) was the national currency.
中國最早的機制洋式錢幣為光緒年間的“光緒元寶”，俗稱“龍洋”，因錢幣背面一般鑄有龍紋而得名。光緒元寶是錢幣收藏世界知名度極大的一枚，被譽為錢幣精品，具有無法估量的學術與歷史價值，是清朝光緒年間流通的貨幣之一。它既是商品交換的手段，也是一種特殊的文化載體，是晚清民國時期政治、經濟、文化藝術狀況的反映。它的價值被越來越多的人所發現，成為古玩市場上炙手可熱的收藏亮點，被越來越多的人所收藏。
The earliest machine-made foreign coins in China are "Guangxu Yuanbao" in the reign of Guangxu, commonly known as "Longyang", which is named after the dragon pattern on the back of the coins. Guangxu Yuanbao is one of the most famous coins in the world. It is known as the best of coins. It has immeasurable academic and historical value. It is one of the currency in circulation during the reign of Guangxu in the Qing Dynasty. It is not only a means of commodity exchange, but also a special cultural carrier, reflecting the political, economic, cultural and artistic conditions in the late Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China. Its value has been found by more and more people, and has become a hot collection spot in the antique market, which has been collected by more and more people.
清代廣東省公開鑄行的第三套機制銀幣，為我國晚清自鑄機制銀幣的典范。光緒13年(1886年)兩廣總督張之洞在廣東創辦用機器鑄幣的廣東錢局，通過香港匯豐銀行訂購英國伯明翰喜敦造幣廠的造幣機器。光緒13年正月(1887年2月)張之洞上奏朝廷請許廣東試鑄銀元。同年3月光緒皇帝發布上諭命張之洞“聽候諭旨遵行。”次年清政府迫于抵制外洋減少白銀流失之需，批準了其請求。當年廣東錢局利用喜敦造幣廠訂做的鋼模試鑄了七錢三分銀幣。光緒十五年(1889年)正式鑄行“七三番版銀幣”供市場流通。“七錢番版”銀元進入市面流通后，因為比當時市面流通的外國銀元重量多一分而多被人收藏或熔毀，反而市面罕見，流通不暢。后來張之洞采納了英國匯豐銀行的建議，重新雕制鋼模鑄造了設計風格與“七三番版”銀幣相似的廣東第二版機制銀幣，即成色和幣重都與市場流通的外洋相同的“七錢二分”版銀元，俗稱“七二番版”銀幣。鑄后因“洋文列于中國年號之外，體制尚有未合”引起非議而停鑄。于是重新設計第三版廣東省造光緒元寶銀幣。光緒十六年(1890年)4月，第三版廣東光緒元寶七錢二分銀幣系列正式鑄行，后經清廷下令作法定銀幣，成晚清中國自鑄銀幣之典范。此后各省群起效尤，競相設廠鼓鑄，迅速在全國展開，近代中國大規模鑄造機制龍洋由此開始。
The third set of machine-made silver coins, which was publicly minted in Guangdong Province in Qing Dynasty, is a model of self minted machine-made silver coins in late Qing Dynasty. In 1886, Zhang Zhidong, the governor of Guangdong and Guangdong provinces, set up the Guangdong money bureau with machine coinage in Guangdong, and ordered the mint machine of British Birmingham's Heaton Mint through Hongkong and Shanghai Bank. In the first month of the 13th year of the reign of Emperor Guangxu (February 1887), Zhang Zhidong went up to the court and asked Guangdong to try casting silver. In March of the same year, Emperor guangyuexu issued an edict, ordering Zhang Zhidong to "obey the edict." The next year, the Qing government was forced to boycott foreign countries and reduce the loss of silver, and approved its request. At that time, the Guangdong money bureau used the steel mold made by Hilton mint to cast seven coins and three cents silver coins. In 1889, the "seven three times silver coin" was officially cast for market circulation“ After entering the market, the "seven coin version" of silver was collected or destroyed because it weighed a little more than the foreign silver in circulation at that time. On the contrary, it was rare in the market and the circulation was not smooth. Later, Zhang Zhidong adopted the suggestion of HSBC Bank of England and re carved the second version of Guangdong machine-made silver coin with the design style similar to the "seven three times" silver coin. That is to say, the "seven two times" silver coin with the same quality and weight as the foreign currency circulating in the market is commonly known as the "seven two times" silver coin. After the casting, the casting was stopped because of the criticism that "the foreign language was listed outside the Chinese year, and the system was still not in conformity". So the third edition of Guangxu silver coin was redesigned. In April of 1890, the third edition of Guangxu Yuanbao seven coin two cent silver coin series was officially coined. Later, it was ordered by the Qing government to be legal silver coin, which became a model of self coining silver coin in late Qing Dynasty. Since then, all provinces have set up factories to promote casting, which has rapidly spread all over the country.
這枚“廣東省造光緒元寶庫平七錢二分”銅幣或可一窺究竟，銅幣錢面珠圈中鐫滿漢文“光緒元寶”四字，上下環漢字“廣東省造”，下鐫幣值“庫平七錢二分”，左右各飾一四瓣小花;錢幣背面中心為蟠龍圖案，上環英文“KWANG-TUNGPROVINCE(廣東省造)”字樣，下環英文“7MACEAND2CANDAREENS(七錢二分)”字樣。此幣品相精致，其審美風格獨持，錢幣正面鮮然可見滿漢文化的融合，而錢背卻明確標示了西方文化的介入，錢幣雖小，也可管窺社會文化一斑。其包漿入骨,熟舊自然，深打字口清楚，流通痕跡明顯，邊齒過關，龍鱗清晰，它有著歷史熏陶，是價值很高的革命文物，具有深遠的歷史紀念意義;同時還是考古和研究中國歷史文化難得的實物。
This copper coin with "made in Guangdong Province Guangxu Yuanbao Kuping Qiqian bisection" may have a glimpse. The bead circle of the copper coin is engraved with the four characters of "Guangxu Yuanbao" in Chinese. The upper and lower rings of the Chinese character "made in Guangdong Province" are engraved with "Kuping Qiqian bisection", and the left and right sides are decorated with four petals of flowers; On the back of the coin, there is a dragon pattern in the center, with the words "kwang-tungprovince (made in Guangdong Province)" in the upper ring and "7maceand2candarenes" in the lower ring. The coin is exquisite in appearance and unique in aesthetic style. The fusion of Manchu and Han culture is rarely seen on the front of the coin, but the back of the coin clearly indicates the intervention of western culture. Although the coin is small, it can also have a glimpse of social culture. It is a highly valuable revolutionary cultural relic with profound historical significance; At the same time, it is also a rare object for Archaeology and the study of Chinese history and culture.
作為近代中國錢幣中的精品，光緒元寶不僅拍賣價值不菲，而且也是一枚貨真價實的革命文物，它的圖案與外形設計，都能展現出清朝歷史的風雨興衰，因而，無論是史學家進行歷史研究還是考古學家用來解讀奧秘，都是一種不可替代的紀實實物。小小的錢幣身負重擔，不僅代表著當時的市值，更映射出長遠的歷史，因而，無論是個人收藏還是進行藏品投資，該錢幣都能在它本身的幣值上面展現出更多的藏品價值，也會給您帶來更多的福氣，是當下最值得您細細珍藏的絕世寶貝。
As one of the best coins in modern China, Guangxu Yuanbao is not only valuable at auction, but also a real revolutionary cultural relic. Its pattern and shape design can show the ups and downs of the Qing Dynasty history. Therefore, whether historians study history or archaeologists interpret the mystery, it is an irreplaceable documentary object. The burden of a small coin not only represents the market value at that time, but also reflects the long-term history. Therefore, whether it is personal collection or collection investment, the coin can show more collection value on its own currency value, and it will bring you more happiness. It is the most precious treasure worthy of your careful collection.
