This preview for the August Hong Kong Showcase Auction features a terrific vintage Chinese coin from the Republic era. This elegant coin displays a front-view portrait of Yuan Shih-kai in full military regalia. His jacket proudly displays his medals and decorations for his years of service in the military; a sash is visible running across his chest from his right shoulder, and epaulets add significant prestige to his bust. Also eye-catching is Yuan’s high-feathered military hat, which symbolized his status at the pinnacle of the Chinese Republican military and government. Luigi Giorgi, prolific engraver as the head of the Tientsin Mint from 1910-20, included his signature on the dies that produced this coin. This detail elevates the desirability over the unsigned variety by a substantial amount. The reverse for this coin contains the necessary coin information since the obverse features only the portrait. The upper Chinese inscription states: "Republic of China. Coin Commemorative of the Republic." Two ornate rosettes separate the upper Chinese inscription from the lower English: "One Dollar." The central design displays an open wreath around two prominent Chinese characters meaning: "One Yuan." Like most historical figures Yuan Shih-Kai’s legacy is complex and fraught with negative repercussions. He was an important general and politician, best known for his military reforms and his role in the transition from monarchy to a republic in China at the turn of the century. Yuan’s greatest achievement turned out to be a double-edged sword, as his military reforms fostered a loyalty that led to rival warlords competing with each other after his death. This fractioning of the army, coupled with his bid to restore the monarchy (with himself as emperor) eroded the ideals of the Republican movement he had helped establish.
We are accepting consignments of Chinese and other Asian coins and currency for our August 2018 Hong Kong Showcase Auction. In addition, we are currently taking consignments of world and ancient coins as well as world paper money for our August 2018 ANA Auction, our October 2018 Collector’s Choice Online Auction as well as the January 2019 New York International Auction. Time is running short, so if you are interested in consigning your coins and paper currency (whether a whole collection or a single rarity) contact one of our consignment directors.
