Kuangsi Square Through Silver Ingots

Stephen Tai
Mar.28, 1998

	Yuen An [Bank] Right side: [Assayed by] Yuan An Weight: 340g
	Chen Ji [Bank] [Assayed by] Chen Ji Both sides: In order to avoiding from fake silver, to be tested the geniuses by fire is recommended. Weight: 400g

Square-through silver ingots in 10 taels were the regional standard silver currency of Kuang Si Province.
The shown silver ingots were a kind of mercantile silver of Kuangsi during late Ching Dynasty. The inscriptions are few and simple, only name of silver shops were shown.
There usually have two stamps on such silver ingots: a manufacturer’s stamp, and an assayer’s chop. The shown silver ingots have exemplified the silver shops assayed the silver after casting them.
In some cases, silver shops intended to limit their responsibility by inscribing disclaimer onto the silver (#2), indicating that forgery might not be avoided, holders have to reassure the geniuses of the silver by themselves.