Lot #21745. CHINA. T'ai Ping Rebellion "Tian Guo Sheng Bao" (Taiping Heavenly Kingdom Sacred Treasure). Silver 1/4 Tael, ND (ca. 1850-64). 太平起義 "天國聖寶"（太平天國聖寶）。銀質 1/4 兩，ND（約為 1850-64 年）。
EXTREMELY RARE Taiping Rebellion Silver 1/4 Tael
Description:27.55 mm; 9.12 gms. Wenchao-pg.#804-5 & #1401-3 (rarity four stars); Mailliet-pg.269#1; KM-2 (listed as 5 known); cf.Schjoth-1608. EXTREMELY RARE, very interesting, and historically very important.
In the mid-nineteenth century the use of opium spread far and wide throughout China, several rebellions occurred because of this. The Tai Ping rebellion, which killed over 20 million people, fought against opium and for a Communist-Christian form of government. From 1851 to 1864 the country suffered from the revolution that was led by Hong Xiuquan, a visionary who had been influenced by a dream, felt that he was called to rid China of idolatry and corruption. He became obsessed with the idea that he was a brother of Jesus Christ, fated to rule all of China.
Hong’s “Heavenly Kingdom of Great Peace” T’ai P’ing T’ien Kuo, issued a number of cast bronze cash coins. All are scarce now, but were plentiful at the time and saw wide circulation. When the rebel capital Nanking was captured by the Imperial troops in 1864, the slaughter was beyond belief. The general in charge of the operation reported that not one of the rebels surrendered, and everyone had to be killed. Over 100,000 were murdered in that city alone, and some parts of the country were so badly depopulated that the effects were still felt at the turn of the century.
During the brief glory days of the Tai Ping Kingdom, they issued not only bronze cash coins, but also a unique form of silver and perhaps even some gold coinage. The silver pieces weighed one-half and one-quarter tael. Each coin was individually hand inscribed with the characters “T’ien Kua” (Heavenly Kingdom) on the obverse, and “Sheng Pao” (Sacred Currency) on the reverse. There is no explanation as to why this labor-intensive hand engraving technique was used. Production must have been very limited, and perhaps the coins were used only for special purposes. The few remaining pieces known today verify that they were never common. To the best of our knowledge these pieces were first published in Brussels Belgium by Mailliet in the reference “Atlas des Monnaies Obsidionales et de Necessite”, 1868.
A survey of private collections and museums reveals that a very small number of pieces are known to exist. The following is a list of the surviving pieces of which we are aware. 1) Smithsonian Institution. Ex: Glover collection, acquired in 1897.
2) Howard Simmons (British coin dealer). Sold in 1984.
3) Dr. Che-lu Tseng Collection. Ex: Bruce Smith 1984.
4) David Loh Collection. Ex: Scott Semans June 1991 Auction lot# 757 “The Daniel K.E. Ching collection”.
5) The General M.S. Newton/Kenneth Bressett Collection (example offered here).
We are also aware of the existence of approximately a dozen examples of the ½ Tael. Most notably are the pieces housed in the Smithsonian Institution, Ex: Glover collection acquired in 1897; The British Museum example acquired in 1903; and the American Numismatic Society specimens purchased in 1928.
"27.55 毫米； 9.12 克。溫超-頁碼#804-5 & #1401-3 （珍藏度☆☆☆☆）；Mailliet-頁碼.269#1; KM-2 (列明為 5); cf.Schjoth-1608。非常罕見，非常有趣，以及具有重要歷史意義。
EXTREMELY FINE.
Newton / Bressett Collection.
