ObverseImage: Wikimedia Commons · Scott Semans · CC BY 3.0
Dragon Dollar
China
1889–1908
Reference data compiled from public catalogs
Estimated Melt Value
$61.69
Based on Silver spot price ($78.96/oz) · 90.0% purity · 27g
Updated 10:08 PM
Collector premium not included
Specifications
| Country | China |
| Years Minted | 1889–1908 |
| Composition | 90% silver, 10% copper |
| Weight | 27 g |
| Diameter | 39 mm |
| Shape | Round |
| Edge | Reeded |
Design
Obverse
Features a dragon design with Chinese inscriptions around it.
Reverse
Displays the denomination in English and Chinese, along with the year.
History & Notable Facts
The Dragon Dollar's dragon design, meant to evoke imperial might, was actually based on sketches by foreign advisors, highlighting China's awkward embrace of Western minting tech during the Qing era.
That said, these silver coins were struck from 1889 to 1908 at various imperial mints, often on planchets sourced from melted-down foreign silver—like those old Spanish reales that flooded Asia. We know the obverse showed a serpentine dragon encircled by waves, while the reverse bore Chinese characters and sometimes English dates, all to standardize currency amid economic chaos. Mintage figures? Spotty at best; some records burned in later upheavals, so don't ask for exact numbers.
Variations exist, from proof strikes to worn circulators, and fakes abound—proving that even dragons get copied. As for myths, like the one about cursed coins bringing bad luck, I've handled enough to say it's just silver and history, nothing more. Collectors might quibble over that.
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