IRVINE, Calif. (March 18, 2014) — Choice, rare and interesting items in all series and price ranges will be offered in the Stack’s Bowers Galleries April 2014 Hong Kong Auction. Chinese, East Asian, and world coins and paper money will cross the block. Collectors can participate in person at the sale or worldwide on the company’s website, StacksBowers.com.
Highlights include superlative-grade, low-mintage gold issue of the late 20th century, extremely rare patterns, gold impressions from dies intended for silver coins, and highly prized provincial issues. In addition to showcase items expected to command six-figure winning bids, there will thousands of world coins and paper money available for collectors at every budget level.
“Chinese gold coins produced during the last two decades of the 20th century for the overseas market have vastly increased in popularity with collectors in mainland China in recent years and rank high in desirability,” said Rick Ponterio, executive vice president of Stack’s Bowers Galleries.
Among the low-mintage highlights in the Hong Kong sale are a 1988 Year of the Dragon 1,000 Yuan in Proof-68 Ultra Cameo, a 1992 Year of the Monkey 1,000 Yuan in Proof-69 Ultra Cameo, and a 1995 Unicorn Series 500 Yuan in Proof-69 Deep Cameo.
Early 20th century Chinese pattern coins have been the subject of intense interest among collectors in recent years, especially as their extreme rarity has come to be more full appreciated, thanks to ongoing research. Gold impressions from dies intended for silver coins have also risen to popularity. Several patterns and off-metal gold issues are featured in the sale, including a Year 3 (1911) Dragon pattern dollar of the Tientsin Mint, L&M-32, in Specimen-62, a Year 12 (1923) Dragon and Peacock pattern dollar of the Tientsin Mint, L&M-80, in MS-66, a Year 9 (1920) dollar in gold, L&M-1092, MS-64, and an Year 10 (1921) dollar in gold, L&M-1125, MS-61.
Chinese provincial issues have recently emerged as one of the most desirable series in world numismatics, with numerous different specimens now regarded as six-figure items. Highlights in the provincial series include a Chihli (Pei Yang) tael, Year 33 (1907), L&M-437, in AU-58, a Fengtien dollar, Year 24 (1898), L&M-471, in MS-63, and an extremely rare Kweichow 50 cents and 20 cents, L&M-614 and 615, grading AU-58 and MS-61 respectively.
An important rarity of the Chinese Soviet era is a 1932 Hupeh-Honan-Anhwei dollar, L&M-887 in Fine-15.
A Japanese Year 9 (1876) trade dollar, Y-14 in MS-67 and a Thai undated (1864) ½ baht in gold grading MS-64 will each command strong attention at the sale.
Specialists in medals will be eager to bid on a Chinese Year 8 (1919) Tan Hao Ming gold medal, L&M-953 in Almost Uncirculated and a 19th-century Korean Openwork Double Happiness Chatelaine with attached ribbons and charms, Mendel-108.7, grading Extremely Fine.
Paper money highlights include a Ming Dynasty (ca. 1368-99) 400 cash note printed on mulberry grading Very Fine 25, a Chinese Year 4 (1854) Board or Revenue 50 taels, P-A13b, VF-20, a Hong Kong Chartered Bank of India, Australia, and China 100 dollars, P-45, in EF-40 EPQ, a Straits Settlements 1925 100 dollars, P-13, in Very Fine 25, and a Government of Thailand (1948) 1000 baht specimen note in Choice Uncirculated 64.
Other highlights include:
Lot 30109 — JAPAN. Trade Dollar, Year 9 (1876). Y-14; JNDA-01-12. NGC MS-67. $15,000-$20,000.
Lot 30163 — KOREA. Openwork Double Happiness Chatelaine with Attached Ribbons & Charms, ca. 19th Century. 174.4 x 140.65 mm. Mandel-108.7; KCBC-Y-39; KCY-1-42-2. EXTREMELY FINE. $20,000-$30,000.
Lot 30200 — THAILAND. 1/2 Baht Struck in Gold, ND (1864). Fr-20; Y-10.2a; LeMay-pl.21#9; K&M-pl.F15. NGC MS-64. $40,000-$60,000.
Lot 30360 — CHINA. 1,000 Yuan, 1988. Lunar Series, Year of the Dragon. Fr-B64; KM-200. NGC PROOF-68 ULTRA CAMEO. $35,000-$45,000.
Lot 30384 — CHINA. 1,000 Yuan, 1992. Lunar Series, Year of the Monkey. Fr-B64; KM-435. NGC PROOF-69 ULTRA CAMEO. $75,000-$100,000.
Lot 30489 — CHINA. 500 Yuan, 1995. Unicorn Series. Fr-B; KM-805; NPB-14a. PCGS PROOF-69 DEEP CAMEO Secure Holder. $55,000-$70,000.
Lot 31028 — CHINA. Pattern Dollar Reverse Dragon Type I, Year 3 (1911). Tientsin Mint. L&M-32; cf.K-225; cf.KM-Pn308; cf.WS-0042B; Chang Foundation-pg. 84#36; cf.H.Chang-CH30; cf.C.C.Tsiang-pg. 156 Fig. 383; Shanghai Museum-Mr. Shi Japan’s collection-pg. 15#64. Type I, Incused veins on outer leaves. PCGS SP-62 Secure Holder. $70,000-$90,000.
Lot 31151 — CHINA. Pattern Dollar, Year 12 (1923). Tientsin Mint. L&M-80; K-680a; Y-336.1; Hsu-80; WS-0113. Dragon and peacock. Large characters. PCGS MS-66 Secure Holder. $30,000-$40,000.
Lot 31219 — CHINA. Dollar Struck in Gold, Year 9 (1920). L&M-1092; K-1562; Wenchao-pg. 77#39 (rarity four stars). NGC MS-64. $100,000-$150,000.
Lot 31221 — CHINA. Dollar Struck in Gold, Year 10 (1921). Fr-unlisted; L&M-1125; K-1570a; KM-Pn66; WS-0082; Wenchao-59 (rarity 3 stars). Reeded edge. Without lower legend on reverse. NGC MS-61. $30,000-$40,000.
Lot 31290 — CHINA. Chihli (Pei Yang). Tael, Year 33 (1907). Tientsin Mint. L&M-437; Y-74.2; Kann-938; WS-0637 Chang Foundation-pg. 118#53; Wenchao-pg. 414#633 (rarity four stars); Hsu-36; H. Chang-CH16. Three dot type. PCGS AU-58 Secure Holder. $80,000-$100,000.
Lot 31302 — CHINA. Fengtien. Dollar, Year 24 (1898). L&M-471; K-244; Y-87; Hsu-425; WS-0583. Narrow mouth dragon. NGC MS-63. $30,000-$40,000.
Lot 31488 —CHINA. Kweichow. 50 Cents, Year 38 (1949). L&M-614 (plate coin); K-758I (this coin); Y-432 (plate coin); WS-1114 (plate coin); Top Chinese Coins-pg. 129 (plate coin); Wenchao-pg. 668#1066 rarity five stars (plate coin). NGC AU-58. $125,000-$175,000.
Lot 31489 — CHINA. Kweichow. 20 Cents, Year 38 (1949). L&M-615 (plate coin); K-758II (this coin); Y-431 (plate coin); WS-1115 (plate coin); Top Chinese Coins-pg. 129 (plate coin); Wenchao-pg. 668#1067 rarity four stars (plate coin). NGC MS-61.$90,000-$120,000.
Lot 31679 — CHINA. Soviet Issues. Hupeh-Honan-Anhwei Soviet. Dollar, 1932. L&M-887; K-802; Y-503; WS-1335; Bulletin of the Numismatic Society of China-Vol. XXVI. No 3. March 1937, pg. 119-124, pl. 1#4. NGC FINE-15. $45,000-$65,000.
Lot 31703 — CHINA. Republic. Tan Hao Ming Gold Medal, Year 8 (1919). 12.57 gms. L&M-953 (plate coin). Tan Hou Ming in military uniform three-quarters facing to left, nine six pointed stars around. ALMOST UNCIRCULATED. $20,000-$30,000.
Lot 32001 — CHINA. Empire. Ming Dynasty 400 Cash, 1368-99. P-AA4?. (S/M#T36-4) Printed on mulberry. Large vertical format. PMG Very Fine 25 Net. Tears, Corner Damage. $100,000-$150,000.
Lot 32009 — CHINA. Empire. Board of Revenue 50 Taels, Yr. 4 (1854). P-A13b. (S/M#H176-14) PMG Very Fine 20 Net. Internal Damage. $20,000-$30,000.
Lot 32327 — HONG KONG. Chartered Bank of India, Australia & China 100 Dollars, 1.9.1927. P-45. PMG Extremely Fine 40 EPQ. $30,000-$50,000.
Lot 32544 — STRAITS SETTLEMENTS. Government of the Straits Settlements 100 Dollars, 24.9.1925. P-13. (KNB11c-d). PMG Very Fine 25 Net. Previously Mounted, Ink. $10,000-$15,000.
Lot 32548 —THAILAND. Government of Thailand 1000 Baht, ND (1948). P-NL. Specimen. Printed by TDLR. PMG Choice Uncirculated 64 Net. Previously Mounted. $15,000-$20,000.
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 our April and August Hong Kong Auctions.
