Silver Purity Appraisal

Fung-Tien Province Silver Coin

The item is a silver coin, likely from imperial China, given the characters and inscription visible. It features a circular shape with a reeded or finely grooved edge, indicating it was minted. The obverse side (as shown) displays Chinese characters in the center, potentially indicating a denomination or reign. Surrounding the central characters is a beaded inner circle. Outside this, there is an inscription in English, which appears to read 'FUNG-TIEN PROVINCE', and potentially 'ONE DOLLAR' or another denomination, though the full text is not entirely clear due to slight wear and partial obscuring. Interspersed with the English text are more Chinese characters, possibly representing the provincial name or the coin's value in Chinese. The coin exhibits a dull, tarnished silver patina, consistent with age and exposure, suggesting it has not been recently cleaned. There are visible signs of wear, particularly on the raised elements of the design and inscription, indicating circulation. No severe damage, such as deep scratches or bends, is immediately apparent, but minor surface abrasions are present. The overall craftsmanship appears to be of standard mint quality for coinage of its era, with legible inscriptions despite the wear. The style suggests it belongs to the late 19th or early 20th century, a period when Chinese provincial mints often produced coinage with both Chinese and English inscriptions for trade purposes.