Szechuan 7 Mace and 2 Candareens (1 Yuan) ND 1897 Ref: KM# Pn15 var. Actual dimensions: diameter: 39,56 mm, weigth: 26,71 gram. Obverse lettering: 造省川四 光 ᠪᠠᡩᠠᡵᠠᠩᡤᠠ 寶 ᠶᡠᠸᠠᠨ ᠪᠣᠣ 元 ᡩᠣᡵᠣ 緒 分二錢七平库 Translation: Made in Szechuan Province Guangxu (Emperor) / Yuanbao (Original currency) Guangxu (Emperor) / Yuanbao (Original currency) Worth 7 Mace and 2 Candareens (weight) Reverse: Dragon with pearl at centre surrounded by English legend. Lettering: SZECHUEN PROVINCE 7 MACE 2 CANDAREENS Engraver: Charles Edward Barber Edge: Reeded. In 1896, the Imperial Government of China was wanting to modernize Chengtu's mint in Szechuan. Both the British Royal Mint and the American Trading Company were both commissioned to make patterns, with those from America being the accepted designs. These patterns were struck by the Ferracute Machine Company (who, while was not necessarily a mint, was a supplier of minting machinery) in 1897, with patterns being struck in both silver and brass. After their initial presentation, the company shipped the patterns and minting machinery to Chengtu. When everything arrived at Chengtu thirteen months later, the dies were badly rusted due to water damage. Some examples were struck in 1898, but then minting was delayed until 1901, when Chinese engravers had remade the dies (although those new dies were a much lesser quality than the originals, sometimes even displaying errors in the English legend). Please take a good look at the photos, they are part of the description. They provide a clear picture of the quality and condition of the product and they fill in any gaps in the text or correct any errors and are decisive for the description of the product. ID: 2807