Continuing on this Junk Silver blog series, we’re stepping up the shiny silvery awesomeness from the 1996 Portugal Discovery series. If you like ships, then Portuguese Commemorative coins should be on your list to check out. Here’s the link of the previous post series.
“Black birds tend to like shiny things.” ~ The Bloody Raven.
Ben of HK Colonial coins just happened to stumble across the entire 1996 Portuguese set at a recent spring show and asked me which one do I want? And I immediately said all ‘four of them.’ The Junk was the first priority but since they were all available, why not. I’ve seen the actual original carded 1996 set. Some Dealers are patient and willing to break a set selling them as individual coins often selling better individually. Knowing Ben, he’d find a reasonable middle ground price.
The Silver Junk
Macau is situated a short distance west across the bay from Hong Kong. They are now connected by the amazing 55 km Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge system, the longest sea crossing in the world. I’d like to go see it should I get the opportunity to go explore my Asian roots.
It was said, while the flight of able bodied Chinese ‘Young Geese’ travel to find their fortune always travelled from Hong Kong. At the time those heavily indentured often found themselves in Macau to pay their debts as slaves. A startling contrast between these two places as viewed by my ancestors that preceded my mother by a mere three generations ago.
Macau is located on a peninsula of land west side of the Pearl River estuary in an area originally 33 sq. kilometers expanded to present day 115 sq. kms. After a number of clashes with the Ming Chinese the Portuguese finally acquired the rights to establish a trade colony in 1557 paying a lease of 500 Taels a year in silver to the Ming.
The Portuguese had trouble establishing trade relations so the Macau became more a stopover port with their trade with Japan. As time went on trust was in short supply with the Portuguese building fortifications such as the Fortaleza do Monte were built and the Guia Fortress against the Chinese conditions of their lease.
For 442 years of Portuguese rule over the Peninsula of Macau was handed back over to China on December 20th, 1999 and in return China will guarantee Macau’s political and economic system until 2049 as a Special Administrative zone.
A few Macau facts; 2024 Population of 712,600, Per Capita GDP $125,000 wow! And what was their primary industry? Gambling.
Bonus Junk Silver
Teng Meng; Chronicles of the Bloody Raven
A large crescent moon begins it’s climb from the horizon into the sky, the golden dragon has eaten his fill and has retired for the night. A crewman lights a lantern and hangs it off the bow of the ship while another takes down the stern sail.
It was almost a hundred years since she first sailed the Pearl river Estuary back with the original Storm Crow Brigantine. She was Mintauru then, when she first met Ching Shih.
The waters were deceptively calm in the South China sea. Darkness was always perfect cover for any of Shih’s many pirate vessels and style. But those days are gone and the memory the notorious Pirate queen and the politics has faded into history. The lamps of Macau’s tall fortifications could still be seen from the ship.
It was Gai Jin Won, great grandson of Mr. Won’s medicine shop that personally delivered her medicine and the news of events that forced the hand of the Bloody Raven to return to fix a problem. A Warlord threatens Mr. Won’s modest herbal shop and she promised to protect their interests... It is time for this Warlord to meet Teng Meng the Red Dragon. But first she must visit Ching Shih’s secret resting place to bestow a measure of respect and perhaps some amends for not able to fulfill a personal request.
The Junk slowed and turned starboard along an open space on the wharf gliding in with a gentle thump against the timbers. At the Captain orders the junk to be secured when two of the crew leaped off and secured each line from the bow and the stern.
Junk Fiat 1935 Republic of China
She unbuttoned her overcoat before stepping onto the wharf and warmer air. “Solid ground, feels good to be back on solid ground.”
Two men approached the Junk; one with a lantern and the other with what appeared to be a ledger, “Where is the Captain? A Mooring fee must be paid in advance.”
“I will pay the fee. I hired the Captain." She replied.
He lifted the lamp. She wore a Chinese red silk Cheongsam under a Portuguese ladies’ walking coat, then illuminating her masked face, startled he pressed on with his business, “Two Taels of silver for first day, and another four Taels for tax and as refundable deposit!”
The request bought back a familiar memory, “What? A tax and deposit? I am not naïve to believe that,” she snapped.
The Harbor master sneered with contempt at the woman’s reaction, he took a step back and a hurriedly waved forward a few armed thugs from the shadows. “Foreign women should not be allowed to do such business you Portuguese should know because even your own Governor says so!”
“It has always been just one silver Tael, I will take this to the Governor later in the morning.” Opening her coat revealed the hilt of a weapon that hung at her right side. She touches the hilt once as if gauging his reaction before her purse emerges from her left. She very slowly counts out six Taels as her eyes locked at the Harbor master’s.
A sudden breeze picks up blowing out most of the shore lamps, the air around them grew cold as the moon itself dimmed bathing the entire wharf in shadow except for the Harbor master’s sole lamp. The masked woman holds out six silver sycee, “What is your name Harbor Master of Macau?” Her steady gaze and tone chilled his backside and his heart began to race, fear gripped his soul to a point that he felt an urge to flee even with his henchmen nearby. It felt as if he gave his name to this strange woman that his soul was bound with it.
He hesitated but gave in to her influence, “Liu... Gee Foong…” he gasped. The faces of his henchmen began to show a palpable fear.
She dropped the silver into his palm, “I want a receipt Mr. Liu.”
Liu instantly nodded to the Book keeper. His aide hastily wrote out a receipt and cursed aloud if for not a better word, willing the ink to dry faster. The aide’s hand trembled as he handed the paper slip to the pale masked woman, “P... paid in full.”
“I will visit you later Harbor master Liu.” She replied in a low growl. She turned to look at the Harbor master’s oil lamp.
The flame inside lamp suddenly flickers out.
Stacking Hive and Precious metals for that dark and stormy night!
Related Post
From Pirate Queen Ching Shih and the Raven’s skull.
The #piratesunday tag is the scurvy scheme of Captain 
References & Sources
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 2024 Hive 0.999 Silver Round.
Wiki; Macau.
Wiki; Ching Shih.
Physical precious metals bullion stacking is only a part of my personal overall financial strategy. Collecting has different objectives and goals apart from Stacking. Please, Do your research before deciding to buying any numismatic or bullion products.