How to Identify the Chinese Fengtien Province Dragon Dollar

What It Is

This coin is a provincial silver dollar minted by Fengtien province (in Manchuria, roughly modern Liaoning) during the late Qing dynasty's Guangxu era. Like other dragon dollars, it was valued at 7 Mace and 2 Candareens, with smaller fractional pieces also struck for everyday change. Fengtien's location in the northeast, close to Russian and Japanese spheres of influence in Manchuria, meant the province had strong incentive to issue its own reliable silver coinage for regional trade rather than relying solely on imported foreign dollars.

Obverse Design & Inscriptions

The obverse bears Chinese characters reading "Made in Fengtien Province," accompanied by Manchu script, arranged around a beaded circle. An English legend around the rim typically reads "FUNG-TIEN PROVINCE" along with the reign year, and some Fengtien issues are notable for including a Western-style numeral date alongside the traditional Chinese year.

Reverse Design & Inscriptions

A coiled dragon appears among stylized clouds with a flaming pearl above its head and waves along the lower border. On many varieties, the denomination "7 MACE AND 2 CANDAREENS" appears in English near the rim, with a matching Chinese weight inscription at the top.

Size, Weight, Metal & Edge

It is a silver dollar roughly 39mm across, weighing about 26.7-27 grams, with fineness generally in the .868-.900 range depending on the batch. The edge is reeded.

Mint Marks & Where to Find Them

There is no separate mint-mark letter; the mint's identity comes directly from the "Fung Tien" or "Fengtien" wording spelled out in the obverse legend, along with the accompanying Chinese province name. Because several Fengtien issues span a range of Guangxu reign years, cross-referencing the small Chinese year characters against a reference list of known dates helps confirm exactly which issue a given coin represents.

Telling It Apart from Similar Coins

Fengtien dollars stand out among dragon dollar issues for occasionally showing an Arabic-numeral year, which is uncommon on other provincial dragon dollars. Compare the dragon's style, the border beading, and the specific wording of "Fung Tien" against other provinces such as Pei Yang or Kiangnan to confirm attribution.

Judging Condition at a Glance

Wear typically appears first on the dragon's raised spine ridge, the flaming pearl, and the outer rim beading. Sharp, well-defined scales and legend characters indicate a lightly circulated example.

Authenticity Red Flags

Certain Fengtien varieties are rare and command strong prices, making them common targets for counterfeiters. Check the coin's weight and diameter against known standards, and inspect the dragon's scale and facial detail closely; soft, mushy strikes, off-color surfaces, or an unusually light weight suggest a cast reproduction rather than a genuine struck coin. Pay particular attention to the small numeral or Chinese year characters near the rim, since altering or re-engraving a date to create a rarer-looking variety is a common manipulation on this series.