Stellar examples from the first session of foreign coins and Chinese medals included a Korean Warn Pattern struck in white metal, notable as a pattern for the first modern machine struck coinage of Korea, which realized $33,460. A silver medal commemorating the establishment of the Foochow Arsenal realized $83,650, while an incredible gold medal of Li Yuan Hung finished off the session of impressive highlights, bringing $59,750.
Session B included a Reverse Dragon pattern Dollar, which realized $179,250, three times its high estimate. A highly sought after pattern for the 1914 Yuan Shih-kai Dollar signed by famed engraver L. Giorgi doubled its high estimate, totaling $71,700. A 1 Cent pattern also signed by Giorgi realized more than double its high estimate at $83,650. Also offered was the ever-popular “Dragon & Peacock” Dollar in an exceptionally high grade PCGS-MS 66, which sold for $83,650. The rarely seen Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum Dollar exhibited many qualities of a numismatic rarity, as it was tied for finest certified, and displayed excellent toning, exquisite details, and an interesting design. The piece brought just over $100,000 and doubled its high estimate. Another Sun Yat-sen pattern, famous for its “Junk Dollar” Italian design and A. Motti signature realized a strong $47,800, while a very rare Sun Yat-sen from the San Francisco Mint brought an impressive $62,700. A year 23 Pei Yang Arsenal Dollar in a PCGS-MS 64+ holder realized $53,775, double its high estimate, while the extremely rare and historically important “First Dragon Dollar of China” sold for a solid $83,650.
More impressive highlights include the Kweichow Bamboo Dollar, which brought $41,825, nearly triple its high estimate. A Manchurian Provinces 50 Cents piece also sold for more than its estimated value at $22,705. A Szechuan Pattern Dollar struck in brass realized $59,750, while a Szechuan-Tibet ¼ Rupee — a finest certified example — realized $26,290. A truly spectacular offering of the Ex: Irving Goodman Collection Bi Pao Ration “Sumi Calligraphy Brushes” Dollar realized an impressive $119,500, well over double its high estimate. Rounding out the remarkable highlights from the sale is a coin that holds the distinction of being the finest certified: the 1934 Soviet Dollar, which sold for $44,812, nearly triple its high estimate.
World paper money also brought in impressive highlights, including:
Lot 42001 — Ming Dynasty. 1 Kuan, 1368-99. P-AA10. CMC About Uncirculated 50 OPQ. Price Realized: $10,456
Lot 42047 — Bank of China. 5 Dollars, 1.6.1913. P-31s. Specimen. CMC Choice Uncirculated OPQ. Price Realized: $5,377
Lot 42163 — Chi Tung Bank. 10 Yuan, ND (1937). P-J116s1. PMG About Uncirculated 53 Net. Paper Pull. Price Realized: $15,535
Lot 42186 — Hong Kong & Shanghai Banking Corporation. 1 Dollar, 1.6.1887. P-S326. PCGS Fine 15. Price Realized: $50,787
Lot 42260 — Chung Hwa Republic. 100 Dollars, 1936. P-NL. About Uncirculated. Price Realized: $7,170
Lot 42337 — Great Imperial Japanese Government. 10 Yen, 1881 (1883). P-19. CMC Very Fine 30. Price Realized: $6,931
Lot 42357 — Banco Nacional Ultramarino. 100 Patacas, 1.8.1966. P-51a. PMG Gem Uncirculated 66 EPQ. Price Realized: $5,676
The next Stack’s Bowers and Ponterio Showcase Auction is set for December 2-4 in Macau, China. To consign to this special event, contact Stack’s Bowers Galleries at 800.458.4646 (West Coast) or 800.566.2580 (East Coast).
About Stack’s Bowers Galleries
Stack’s Bowers Galleries conducts live, Internet and specialized auctions of rare U.S. and world coins and currency and ancient coins, as well as direct sales through retail and wholesale channels. The company’s 80-year legacy includes the cataloging and sale of many of the most valuable United States coin and currency collections to ever cross an auction block — The John J. Ford, Jr. Collection, The Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection, The Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection, The Norweb Collection, The Cardinal Collection and The Battle Born Collection — to name just a few. World coin and currency collections include The Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection of World Gold Coins, The Kroisos Collection, The Alicia and Sidney Belzberg Collection, The Wa She Wong Collection, The Guia Collection, The Thos. H. Law Collection, and The Robert O. Ebert Collection.
Topping off this amazing numismatic history is the inclusion of the world record for the highest price ever realized at auction for a rare coin, the 1794 Flowing Hair Silver Dollar graded Specimen-66 (PCGS) that realized over $10 million, part of their sale of the famed Cardinal Collection. The company is headquartered in Irvine, California, with offices in New York, Wolfeboro, Hong Kong, and Paris. Stack’s Bowers Galleries is an Official Auctioneer for several important numismatic conventions, including American Numismatic Association events, the New York International Numismatic Convention, the Professional Numismatists Guild New York Invitational, the Whitman Coin & Collectibles Spring, Summer and Winter Expos, and its April and August Hong Kong Auctions.
