May 22nd 2026 marked a year ago that Danny had passed away. The sense of sadness still lingers my heart every time I go through the pieces he sent me as gifts that he knew deeply interested me.
“Black birds tend to like shiny things.” ~ The Bloody Raven.
I had began a journey researching into my family's Asian side. Sharing with Danny of the silver Republic of China coins brought over by my ancestors, piecing together the stories that I could barely remember tying them with some of the anecdotal claims by relatives and the historical context of the Chinese community in Western Canada.
One story is of three brothers, related to my mother's side, who smuggled their way into Hong Kong hiding in the bottom of a Junk hauling a shipment of Soy Sauce before finding more legitimate and comfortable passage over to North America. One brother remembers that tense evening, they could hear the Hong Kong coast guard over the bull horn demanding the Captain declare his cargo manifest, how the captain answered may result with officers boarding to inspect the paperwork or warranting a cargo search.
I'm still sorting some of those details of this particular story.
Danny was more a collector than a Stacker, his theme is undoubtedly the Asian Dragon that dominated his New York State ranch house residence. Coins, authentic Chinese vases, statues even the golden flag of the Qing Dynasty. He recalled his tours of duty as a naval Medical officer that took him through numerous ports of call around south east Asia that included Tokyo, Hong Kong, Singapore, etc.
The 'almost' One Tael 37g Wedding gift silver bar
Exotic Chinese silver, this subject was our common interest. Danny knew I loved to discover mysteries behind Chinese silver and sent me an odd piece to research to my heart's content regardless if it had relevance to my ancestors there in a transitional era following the last days of the Qing Dynasty. One piece I wish to share from Danny is an old, but not genuine dynasty old, little 37g silver bar.
As a quick review, the 兩 Traditional Tael weight standard is different depending on the region; A Mainland China Tael is 37.3g while a Taiwan Tael weight is 37.5g and Hong Kong and Singapore is 37.79g. This 'Qing Dynasty' inspired bar has the typical characteristics of poured silver art bars. It's toning appears natural based on my long familiarity and knowledge base with poured silver and the mass feels about right in my hand. An old ingot that felt smooth from decades of handling and ownership by unnamed couples. No pedigree, no mintage numbers, just a private handcrafted piece of tradition secretly locked away inside it. The top edge appears to be damaged by someone filing or cutting into this ingot as if to physically verify it's authenticity. Too bad regarding the damage however it does add to the character and story of this ingot.
Adding my own story to this ingot
Ben of H.K.Colonial Coins in Hong Kong verifies this as an traditional silver gift given to the new couple. He dates this ingot/bar originating from the 1960s and 1970s. The seals on the top of this bar especially 囍 “Double happiness” Is often seen at many wedding banquets and seeing one of these pieces in my hand gave me pause to think of the ramifications. "Danny was serious about his affections for me." This was like a veiled proposition. I've been so independent for so long, the thought of coming into fork in my life's path left me dumbfounded. "I'm not ready, not now." Was it cold feet? Was it the pain and hurts of relations past?
I told him that I was delighted with this gift, thanked him again and filed it away for research at a later date. I can almost feel his disappointment of my non-response. I often thought back at that moment. Wondering if I could have chosen the new path putting my responsibilities on hold. If I were only free of those responsibilities then. This feels ironic now that I am retired, that door had closed.
Thank you my friends for coming aboard my blog today.
Stacking Precious metals and Crypto for those dark stormy days!
The #piratesunday tag is the scurvy scheme of Captain 
Photos are my own shot with an ancient 2018 Samsung SM-A530W or otherwise indicated.
P. Image under Pixabay
W. Wiki Commons
☠️🎃 Page Dividers by thekittygirl. ❄️🌞
Cameo Raven Brooch from The Black Wardrobe.
The background for these photographs is a chart by Rigobert Bonne, a French Cartographer in 1780, Published in “Atlas de Torurtes les Parties Connues du Globe Terrestre, Dresse pour l’Histoire Philosphique & Politique des Establishments & du Commerce des Europeens dan les Deux Indes” by G.T. Raynad. Size 9 ½ x 16 5/8 inches.
Physical precious metals bullion stacking is only a part of my personal overall financial strategy. Meanwhile, collecting numismatics are a different set of objectives and strategy. Unless you are a complete nutcase as I am please, do your research before deciding to buy into any bullion or numismatic products.