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August 21, 2013 - HONG KONGCHINESE ISSUES FOR TIBET: SICHUAN RUPEESThis series of coins is known as Sichuan or Tibet Rupees. These coins were produced by the Chinese in imitation of the BritishIndian Rupees with the portrait of Queen Victoria. The portrait of the queen was replaced by one which most authorities believeto be the portrait of Emperor Guang Xu. The Sichuan Rupees were minted for exclusive use in Tibet and areas with Tibetanpopulation in western China. One can distinguish between four major varieties:1. Small head without collar (1902-1911 Chengdu mint) with reverse horizontal or vertical rosette2. Small head with collar (1912-1916 Chengdu mint)3. Small head with collar/flat nose (1930-1935 Kangding mint)4. Big head (1936-1942 Kangding mint)According to Y.K.Leung Sichuan Rupees were struck until 1944 (33rd year of the Republic). See:http://ykleungn.tripod.com/szeRupee.htmThe reverses of the Sichuan Rupees struck in Chengdu feature a Chinese character si which has two short vertical strokes withinan open square. On the reverses of the Sichuan Rupees of the Kangding mint the two strokes of the character si are curved sidwardsat their lower ends. The Sichuan Rupees can briefly be described as follows: Obverse: portrait of Emperor Guang Xu Reverse:horizontal or vertical rosette in centre. Four Chinese characters to be read crosswise up to down and from right to left; si chuansheng zao (“made in Sichuan”). Branches with cusps and/or flowers around, a feature which was copied from the British IndianRupees with the portrait of Queen Victoria which were first issued in 1840.179 180179 China, issued for Tibet (1902-1911), Sichuan Rupee, 11.45g, undated, small headwithout collar, rev. horizontal rosette (KM 3.1), good fine and scarce180 China, issued for Tibet, Sichuan Rupee, 11.48g, undated, small head without collar,rev. horizontal rosette (YZM 445-447; KM 3.1), very fine/good fine and scarceHK$4,500-6,000(US$550-750)HK$6,000-8,000(US$700-900)181 China, issued for Tibet, Sichuan Rupee, 11.28g, undated, small head without collar,rev. horizontal rosette (YZM 445-447; KM 3.1), scratches on obverse and reverse, fine andscarce181HK$4,500-6,000(US$550-750)182 183182 China, issued for Tibet, Sichuan Rupee, 11.44g, undated, small head without collar,rev. horizontal rosette (YZM 445-447; KM 3.1), good fine and scarce183 China, issued for Tibet, Sichuan Rupee, 11.55g, undated, small head without collar,rev. vertical rosette, small branch with three leaves in north-east position (YZM 448-449;KM 3), very fine and scarce45HK$4,500-6,000(US$550-750)HK$6,000-8,000(US$700-900)