Triangle Sycee

Stephen Tai
Apr.18, 1998

	Inscriptions: Wen Yin [Fine Silver] Dimensions: 58 (L) x 29 (W) x 36 (H) mm Weight: 190 g (5 taels)
	Inscriptions: Wen Yin [Fine Silver] Dimensions: 55 (L) x 28 (W) x 34 (H) mm Weight: 190 g (5 taels)
	Inscriptions: Wen Yin [Fine Silver] Dimensions: 56 (L) x 32 (W) x 39 (H) mm Weight: 212 g (6 taels)

If we look from the top of the above three sycee, they are about the same feature as of ordinary Yuan Bao’s that we may usually have, however, if we try to look it from their sides, they turn out to be in a shape of triangle which are quite different from what we know about other Yuan Bao’s.
Three sycee can all be found inscribed with same two characters of Wen Yin (Fine Silver), severally on their faces and sides. Upon such inscriptions, silversmiths who made these sycee seemingly tried to boast that those sycee are in good purity.
To use the term of Wen Yin in describing silver of the highest purity among all, had been a common practice during late Ming and early Ching dynasty. In spite of that, however, we still can not boldly claim that they were made in that period of time, since the term of Wen Yin was also widely used after then, but its meaning became deviated. Wen Yin was no longer the best silver over all, even though it still appeared, from time to time.
Sycee in the similar shape which were looked like a triangle from their sides now still are not too difficult to find. Some of them have the inscription, but more don’t. Supposing that these triangle sycee might have been circulated in China for a long time and with lots. In such case, they could be one of the varieties of Yuan Bao which mainly employed by civilians since late Ming dynasty until maybe the early 20^th century when Chinese abandoned sycee currency, for more than 300 years. Because of being making for civil used, no inscription other than a purity related term like Wen Yin would be needed, which will make it difficult to find out their identity.

A Silver Sycee Review