New Discovery: The Unrecorded 1907 Tai-Ching Ti-Kuo Copper Coin 20 Cash Early Tr

The True History of Late Qing Currency ReformIn the study of modern Chinese machine-struck copper coins, the 1907 (33rd year of Guangxu) Tai-Ching Ti-Kuo Copper Coin 20 Cash (Hubu) stands as a landmark large-denomination issue of the late Qing Dynasty’s central currency unification. For a long time, mainstream numismatic catalogs have only recorded the shallow-struck, reed-edged common circulating type with a flat dragon pattern. As a result, a deep-struck, plain-edge, straight-tail official dragon early trial strike has long been overlooked.Recently, an authentic 1907 Hubu 20 Cash specimen with clear circulation marks and natural, thick patina has been accurately measured:Diameter: 33.00mm • Thickness: 1.50mm • Weight: 10.30gfully conforming to the official Hubu (Ministry of Revenue) minting standards. Detailed high-magnification observation and comparison confirm the existence of this previously unrecorded variety.【Fig.1: Obverse overall view】Note: Complete obverse with neat inscriptions, official Hubu standard format.【Fig.2: Reverse overall view】Note: Complete reverse with official dragon pattern, obvious high-relief deep-struck features.This coin is an early trial strike from the Ministry of Revenue Mint. The reverse dragon is struck from an official Hubu master die, featuring a high-arched dragon body, full relief, and sharp details, clearly distinct from mass-produced flat-dragon coins. Its straight dragon tail is widely known among collectors as the Straight-Tail Dragon / Official Dragon.【Fig.3: 200× magnified view of dragon scales】Note: Deep-struck and three-dimensional dragon scales with clear layers, typical of high-pressure trial striking.【Fig.4: 200× magnified view of dragon claws】Note: Strong and distinct dragon claws with complete details, different from shallow-struck circulation issues.【Fig.5: 200× magnified view of cloud patterns】Note: Deep and smooth cloud patterns, standard design from the official Hubu master die.【Fig.6: 200× magnified view of characters】Note: Deep and sharp characters with three-dimensional strokes, no signs of later modification.The most critical authentication evidence lies in the edge microstructure:This coin has a natural plain edge. Under 200× magnification, the edge shows clear, continuous, directional metal flow lines, with no traces of later grinding, cutting, or alteration. The century-old patina is even and solid, fully consistent with the technical characteristics of a high-pressure deep-struck early trial strike.【Fig.7: 200× magnified view of the edge】Note: Natural plain edge with visible genuine metal flow lines.【Fig.8: 200× magnified view of the edge】Note: No grinding or cutting on the edge; natural patina is intact.【Fig.9: 200× magnified view of the edge】Note: Edge microstructure proves one-step striking, not later modified.This authentic specimen restores the true minting evolution of the 1907 copper coin:Initially, the Ministry of Revenue produced trial strikes with a high-standard high-pressure deep-striking process, which were released directly into circulation, aiming for clear patterns and regular formats. However, deep striking forced copper material to squeeze toward the edge, causing uneven edges and high defect rates. Moreover, provincial mints lacked the equipment, pressure capacity, and precision dies to meet this strict standard, threatening the nationwide currency reform.To implement the reform, the Qing court had to compromise:lowering relief height, adopting shallow striking, and adding a reed edge to suit mass production and local industrial capacity.The shift from deep-struck plain-edge official dragons to shallow-struck reed-edge flat dragons was NOT technological progress, but a historical compromise of central standards to real industrial limitations.This long-overlooked early trial strike fills a gap in the varietal study of the 1907 20 Cash. It once circulated in markets, supported daily trade, and witnessed the social and economic upheaval of the late Qing Dynasty.History is not determined solely by catalog records. Physical evidence and scientific proof are the firmest foundation for restoring truth. This discovery reveals a hidden chapter in the history of machine-struck copper coinage in China.Author: Huang QiushiFounder of AIYOU (AIU) Brand

Fig.1: Obverse overall view

 Note:Complete obverse with official Hubu pattern.

Fig.2: Reverse overall view

Note: Official dragon, deep-struck high relief.

Fig.3: 200× magnified dragon scales

Note: High-relief scales, clear high-pressure striking features.

Fig.4: 200× magnified dragon claws

Note: Sharp details, different from common circulation coins.

Fig.5: 200× magnified cloud patterns

Note: Standard official die design, deep and smooth.

Fig.6: 200× magnified characters

Note: Deep and sharp inscriptions, no alteration.

Fig.7: 200× magnified edge

Note: Natural plain edge with clear metal flow lines.

Fig.8: 200× magnified edge

Note: No grinding or reworking, original patina.

Fig.9: 200× magnified edge

Note: One-time striking, not artificially modified.

丁未户部大清铜币当制钱二十文光边直尾龙试铸样币的显微鉴定与工艺分析
—— 基于金属流动性科学原理与四维互证框架的实证研究
摘要
光绪三十三年（1907 年）丁未户部大清铜币当制钱二十文，是清末中央集权币制改革成熟期的核心大面额机制铜元，完整记录了模具调试、工艺定型至规模化量产的阶段性技术演变轨迹。本文以一枚磨损较重、包浆厚重的光边直尾龙试铸样币为实物标本，依托金属塑性加工流变学原理，整合清末造币外籍技师档案、近代钱币学权威成果与段洪刚《中国铜元谱》（2007 年初版，编号 1603 - 户部 045：丁未 20 文直尾龙薄版），构建「实物 — 显微 — 图录 — 史料」四维互证研究框架，全程摒弃假设性推论，开展实证鉴定。
研究先以宏观形制与物理参数锁定清代户部官铸属性；再通过龙身全域 1:1 显微对标、边道肌理微观解析，结合标本磨损与包浆特征开展对照分析，确立原生光边 + 定向金属流动纹理 + 梯度应力包浆，为官铸高压试铸类铜元较为典型的鉴别参考指标。本文重点厘清丁未二十文「深打试铸 — 修模浅打 — 量产流通」的工艺演化脉络，实证初期机铸试铸样币具备批量入市流通属性；通过部颁直尾龙与量产平身龙的全维度工艺对比，揭示丁未铜币工艺更迭并非技术正向演进，而是中央币制集权向地方铸造产能妥协的必然结果。该标本为晚清机制铜元工艺演进与中央币制改革落地过程提供关键实物研究依据。
** 关键词：** 丁未户部二十文；试铸样币；金属流动性；显微鉴定；清末币制改革；边道工艺；部颁龙；平身龙；钱币冶金学
一、引言
光绪三十三年（1907 年）丁未纪年当制钱二十文，是户部造币总厂推行中央统一币制的核心大面额机制铜元。其铸模工艺更迭与版式演化，既是清末机制币铸造技术规范化的缩影，更深刻折射晚清中央收拢铸币权与地方铸币实操局限之间的制度矛盾。
当前学界与收藏界存在两大认知偏差：其一，概念误读，将「试铸样币」等同于「存档样币」，片面认定其铸造量极少、未进入流通，人为割裂了试铸阶段与量产阶段的工艺传承关系；其二，方法局限，过度依赖版式外观宏观区分，缺乏冶金学微观实证，叠加磨损、重包浆对细节的遮蔽，导致对「光边与马齿」「部颁龙与平身龙」工艺更迭逻辑认知模糊。
针对上述空白，本文引入金属流动性原理，以重包浆磨损标本为核心，构建四维互证鉴定体系，通过试铸部颁龙与量产平身龙的全方位对比，还原工艺演化全貌，修正传统认知误区，为同类试铸铜元鉴定提供可复制科学范式，为晚清币制改革实操历程补充实物证据。
二、实物标本特征与显微观察
（一）标本基础信息与宏观特征
本文研究标本为丁未户部造币总厂铸造当制钱二十文铜币，自然磨损明显、包浆厚重覆盖局部细节，实测参数：直径 33.00mm，厚度 1.50mm，重量 10.30g，与段洪刚《中国铜元谱》（2007 年初版）编号 1603 - 户部 045《丁未 20 文直尾龙薄版》标准数据（直径 33.1mm，厚 1.6mm，重 10.5g）高度吻合，误差处于流通磨损合理区间，符合清末户部官铸铜元标准。
文字地张凹凸错落，结构粗壮有力；背面采用部颁标准直尾立龙深打浮雕铸造，龙身 S 形高拱，整体立体感强烈，区别于后期量产平身龙浅打简化样式。
为精准界定标本版式谱系，本次研究设立三重参照：以段洪刚 2007 年版《中国铜元谱》编号 1603 - 户部 045 量产薄版为流通版参照，以高清完整馆藏级直尾部颁龙为官方标准版参照，结合本文实物标本，形成「量产改制版 — 官方标准试铸版 — 传世磨损试铸版」三方对比体系，宏观形制互证，明确版式差异与工艺属性。
图 1 丁未户部二十文版式三方对比图
注：左侧为段洪刚《中国铜元谱》2007 初版，编号 1603 - 户部 045，丁未直尾龙薄版马齿量产币；中间为本文研究实物，光边直尾部颁龙试铸币；右侧为馆藏标准部颁直尾龙参考品。三者对比可见：本文实物与馆藏部颁龙制式完全统一，和段谱量产平身龙存在明显工艺与纹饰差异。
（二）边道显微特征与金属流动性实证
图 2 丁未试铸样币原生光边显微图（×200）
图 3 币身边道金属流动纹理微观对比（×200）
本品为一次性高压冲压成型原生光边，无后期滚压马齿、无人工打磨修整痕迹。200 倍显微观测下，边道金属挤压纹理自然连贯，受力流向清晰，具备高压试铸币特有的金属塑性流变特征；边道包浆由内向外梯度分布，属于高压铸币应力氧化形成的典型微观痕迹，可有效区别后期打磨伪光边与普通马齿流通币。
（三）核心纹饰微观对照说明
因标本龙头区域磨损较重，为保证论证严谨客观，本文规避重度磨损部位，选取龙须、龙鳞、龙爪、火焰珠、直尾、珠圈六处耐磨损、制式约束力极强的固定纹饰，开展 200 倍显微点对点比对，全部细节高度吻合。
图 4 龙须细节对比图（×200）
注：实物龙须弧度、线条走向、雕刻力度与部颁标准完全一致，线条挺拔规整，无量产币简化弱化现象。
图 5 龙鳞细节对比图（×200）
注：典型部颁龙水滴形鳞片，排列密度、鳞形轮廓、层叠结构统一，是区分平身量产龙的核心依据。
图 6 龙爪细节对比图（×200）
注：龙爪筋骨分明，爪尖比例、分叉角度完全遵循户部部颁原版规范，模具雕刻精度一致。
图 7 火珠与火焰纹细节对比图（×200）
注：火焰根数、弯曲角度、珠体轮廓制式统一，修模简化特征未出现，保持初版高压深打原貌。
图 8 直尾部龙尾细节对比图（×200）
注：直尾放射状排布，尾鳞数量、疏密、角度完全一致，为「直尾部颁龙」核心识别特征。
图 9 背面珠圈细节对比图（×200）
注：珠粒圆润饱满，间距均匀统一，铸打力度均衡，体现试铸阶段高精度模具与高压冲压工艺。
综合微观比对结论：该枚丁未二十文虽有流通磨损，但所有未磨损核心纹饰，均与户部部颁直尾龙原版高度契合；与段谱 1603 号薄版平身量产龙，在浮雕高度、雕刻细节、模具精度、整体工艺上存在本质性区别。
三、工艺差异与版式溯源
1. 部颁直尾龙试铸版工艺特征
采用中央户部统一原版模具，深打高浮雕、立体龙身、纹饰繁复精细，高压冲压成型，坯料金属流动强度大，留存原生光边，模具雕刻严谨，细节完整，为早期标准试铸制式。
2. 段谱 1603 量产薄版改制特征
后期地方适配量产需求修模改制，降低浮雕高度、简化龙鳞、弱化筋骨细节、龙身扁平化处理，增设马齿边道，减小冲压压力，降低生产难度，实现大批量流通铸造。
3. 工艺演变本质
丁未铜元由「高浮雕光边试铸」转向「浅打马齿量产」，不是技术升级，而是中央标准向地方产能、设备条件、生产成本的被动妥协。
四、史料支撑与版式稀缺性
依据清末《整顿圜法章程》记载，户部初期标准模具试制铜元，经检验合格后少量进入市面流通，因此试铸样币存在正常流通磨损，符合实物现状。
部颁直尾龙光边初铸版铸期短、模具淘汰早、存世量稀少，后续全面被 1603 号平身薄版取代，属于晚清铜元由标准到简化的关键过渡版式，具备重要版式研究与工艺研究价值。
五、结论
该枚丁未户部二十文实测规格，与段洪刚 2007 版《中国铜元谱》1603 - 户部 045 薄版参数基本吻合，属于同一版式谱系下的早期部颁试铸版本。
原生光边、高压金属流变纹理、梯度应力包浆，多项微观特征相互印证，判定为官方初铸试铸版，非后期打磨改制。
龙须、龙鳞、龙爪、火焰、直尾、珠圈六大核心细节，与部颁原版高度吻合，区别于 1603 号量产平身龙修模简化样式。
此标本实证了丁未二十文「部颁试铸 — 修模简化 — 量产流通」的完整演变过程，为段谱 1603 号版式的工艺溯源，补充了稀缺实物依据。
晚清铜元制式简化属于产能妥协结果，该光边直尾龙试铸币，是清末中央币制改革与铸币工艺演变的重要实物载体。
参考文献
[1] 段洪刚。中国铜元谱 [M]. 2007 年初版：编号 1603 - 户部 045.
[2] 中国人民银行总行。中国近代货币史资料 [M]. 中华书局，1964.
[3] 中国钱币杂志社。清代机制铜元铸造工艺研究 [J]. 2019.
[4] 张宏明。清末部颁铜元模具与版式演变 [J]. 中国钱币，2021.