Four Chinese ideograms read top to bottom, right to left with Manchu characters in the centre, all surrounded by more ideograms.
Obverse script
Obverse lettering
雲南省造
光
ᠪᠠᡩᠠᡵᠠᠩᡤᠠ
寶 ᠶᡠᠸᠠᠨ ᠪᠣᠣ 元
ᡩᠣᡵᠣ
緒
釐四分四錢一平庫 (Translation: Made in Yunnan Province Guangxu (Emperor) / Yuanbao (Original currency) Guangxu (Emperor) / Yuanbao (Original currency) Worth 1 Mace and 4.4 Candareens (weight))
Reverse description
Dragon with pearl at centre with one rosette at either side.
Reverse script
Reverse lettering
Edge
Reeded.
Mint
Mintage
ND
(1911-1915) - Y#256: Two circles beneath pearl (around .800 Ag) - ND
(1911-1915) - Y#256a: Three circles beneath pearl (around .650 Ag) - ND
(1920-1931) - Y#256b: Two or three circles beneath pearl (approximately .400 Ag) -