The "SUNGAREI" legend on this pattern identifies it as intended for circulation in the Dzungarian (Zunghar) region of northern Sinkiang — a deliberate geographic distinction from the Kashgar and Aksu issues produced for the Tarim Basin south of the Tianshan range. Sinkiang's provincial mint at Dihua (modern Ürümqi) experimented heavily with Western-style milled coinage in the 1890s as Beijing pushed for currency standardization, and brass patterns like this one were trial pieces testing denominations and legends before silver production commitments were made.
The "SUNGAREI" legend on this pattern identifies it as intended for circulation in the Dzungarian (Zunghar) region of northern Sinkiang — a deliberate geographic distinction from the Kashgar and Aksu issues produced for the Tarim Basin south of the Tianshan range. Sinkiang's provincial mint at Dihua (modern Ürümqi) experimented heavily with Western-style milled coinage in the 1890s as Beijing pushed for currency standardization, and brass patterns like this one were trial pieces testing denominations and legends before silver production commitments were made.
KM#Pn45 never advanced to regular issue.