Stack’s Bowers and Ponterio is pleased to announce that our August 2015 Hong Kong Auction Catalog is now available online, and soon will be mailed out to subscribers. A casual look through the catalog reveals a cornucopia of offerings, not only from China, but also from all of Southeast Asia.
Session A will begin on August 24 at 10:00 AM Hong Kong Time, and will kick-off the sale with an offering of vertical Chinese banknotes. Beginning with several examples of the earliest banknotes printed anywhere in the world, these Ming Dynasty 1 Kuan notes are often referred to as the “Earliest Collectible Paper Money.” No collection of Chinese banknotes is complete without one. These will be followed by a selection of 19th century vertical notes, all in highly collectible condition from the Ch’ing Dynasty.
Moving on to Republic issues, the notes offered span a wide array of issuing authorities, and include highly sought after notes such as a Commercial Bank of China 5 Taels along with a rare “Shing” Shanghai Branch Bank of China Dollar. Other notes include a complete set of 1919 Bank of Communications Harbin Branch notes in the nicest condition we have ever handled. Included are many other specimen notes and multiple runs of sequential numbered banknotes from the 1950s. Leading off the foreign banknote issues, be sure to see the incredibly rare Canto Shameen Piastre (1902) along with the Malaya King George VI $10,000 Specimen (1902). Both notes are among the most prized and desirable banknotes ever produced, not only in Southeast Asia but also anywhere in the world.
Session B commences at 1:00 PM that same day, and features an exceptional concentration of coinage from Thailand including a run of rare patterns struck under King Rama V in 1868. Of particular interest to collectors of French colonial coins, will be Lot 51045, a rare Piastre Essai issued in 1879 for French Cochin China, a design that went on to influence many subsequent circulating coin and banknote issues for both French Cochin China and French Indo-China. Other offerings you won’t want to miss encompass a wide array of Trade Dollars, both British and Japanese, as well as a fantastic Korean 3 Chon in MS-63 (NGC) with completely intact blue enamel.
This same session continues with ancient Chinese monetary instruments beginning with Spade Money from the Spring-Autumn Period, Gold Cube Money from the Warring States Period, and quickly moves on to a terrific assortment of Warring States Period bronze Knife Money in exceptionally nice condition for the type. The ancient section is followed by a comprehensive offering of silver Sycee in a wide range of shapes and sizes, and covering several centuries. Wrapping-up Session B, is an important offering of medals and military decorations. Highlights include rare Chinese-Peruvian medals, along with an outstanding Tientsin Tutung Yamen Gold Medal (1902), one of perhaps only three known, and with fully intact flag enamel.
Our Hong Kong sale will resume promptly the following morning with Session C at 10:00 AM on August 25th. The Empire General Issues section offers numerous rare patterns, beginning with a 1 Mace piece struck as part of the never produced Kwan Ping Trade Coinage. This will be followed by a run of pattern dollars dated 1907, 1910, and conclude with a 1911 Long Whisker Dragon Pattern Dollar of exceptional rarity.
For those collectors preferring Republic General Issues, there is a seemingly endless offering of portrait dollars (including many patterns) beginning with coins struck shortly after the revolution, and concluding with a phenomenal specimen striking of the 1928 Chang Tso Lin Dollar. Other rare minors, some in sensational condition, round-out the section.
As usual, our Provincial Issues section presents an enormous selection from nearly every Chinese province that issued coinage. In all, over 300 lots of highly desirable coins will be offered. The range of issues is so comprehensive that only a visit to our website can apprise a collector of the specific rarities up for bid. Suffice to say with coins like an 1889 Kwangtung 7 Mace 3 Candareens included, the coins in the section represent some of the best to be sold in the entire sale.
The sale will continue at 10:00 AM the following morning, Wednesday, August 26th with Session D composed exclusively of Modern Chinese coins. The first two lots offered set the pace, with a pair of very desirable 1982 brass Panda patterns of the highest rarity. The lots that follow include Panda issues in every size, from the diminutive 1/20th ounce, up to massive 12 Troy ounce Panda coins, most in PCGS or NGC holders, but with others in original mint packaging as well. Included in the Panda offerings are many coin show medallic issues, several of which are quite rare.
The modern Chinese section continues with a wide assortment of Lunar issues, featuring a pair of massive gold 1000 Yuan coins in nearly flawless condition: A 1989 Year of The Snake with a mintage of 200 is sure to be hotly pursued, as will be a 1990 Year of The Horse with a mintage of just 500. Both coins are totally free of any spots, tone or fog. In addition to many other commemorative coins, be sure you don’t miss the 1995 gold 500 Yuan Unicorn, serial number 3 of 99 and in pristine Proof-69 condition.
Finally, the following week we will run our Internet only coin session (Session E), beginning on Tuesday, September 1st at 11:30 AM local Hong Kong time. Every category from our main sale is represented here, including: Ancient, Sycee, Empire, Republic, Provincial, and Soviet issues, along with fantasies, medals and decorations and modern Chinese and foreign coins. Closing out the auction will be an Internet only paper money session (Session F), which like the previous coin session will offer many desirable banknotes sure to fit the budget of any collector.
Preview these impressive lots along with the rest of our auction this August at the Stack’s Bowers and Ponterio office located in Irvine, California and in our Hong Kong office. For details please refer to the Events Calendar link at www.StacksBowers.com. To schedule an appointment, please call 800.458.4646.
While our Stack’s Bowers and Ponterio August Hong Kong Showcase Auction is closed for further consignments, we are currently taking consignments of Asian, world and ancient coins for our December Hong Kong Showcase Auction of Asian coins and currency, November Baltimore and New York International auctions. Time is running short, so if you are interested in consigning your coins and paper currency (whether a whole collection or a single rarity) be sure to contact one of our consignment directors.
