| Stack's Bowers Galleries (& Ponterio) > April 2024 Hong Kong Auction | Auction date: 15 April 2024 |
| Lot number: 40118 Price realized: 27,000 USD (Approx. 25,407 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: (t) CHINA. Gold K'uping Tael Pattern Restrike, "Year 29 (1903)" (ca. 1970s). Uncertain Mint in Switzerland (struck from Osaka Mint dies). Kuang-hsu (Guangxu). NGC PROOF-62. L&M-1019; Fr-Unlisted; K-927; KM-Pn296; WS-0001; Wenchao-6 (rarity: ★★★★★). Although a modern restrike struck from original dies, this issue remains EXCEPTIONALLY RARE and highly sought after by collectors given its elegant and wondrous design. This type seldom appears on the market and can often be considered virtually uncollectable. Extremely vibrant and radiant, with a majestic degree of mirrored brilliance in the fields and expertly struck devices. Some subtle cabinet friction accounts for the overall designation, but is easily overlooked on account of its superlative and extraordinary nature. Although officially struck off-metal in silver and seemingly bronze at the Tientsin Mint, the original dies were ordered from and prepared by the Osaka Mint in Japan, with any version and generation considered EXTREMELY RARE and desirable. The order for this new series of denominations and coining system was done under the supervision of Robert Hart, Inspector General of Maritime Customs. The initial goal was an early attempt to unify Chinese coinage under the gold standard. Denominations were produced in 1 Tael as well as 5, 2, 1 and 1/2 Mace (5 Candareens). The project failed for several reasons and never came to fruition, with one of the major forms of resistance coming from the directors of the provincial mints, as the plan called for one central mint being responsible for coinage production. This was meant to ensure the uniformity of the new coinage, and would have cut into the profits of the provincial directors. Also, at this time, there was no plan in place to deal with the vastly different types of paper money circulating in China, nor was there a plan regarding acceptance and exchange of these disparate currencies. It would appear that the gold versions of these denominations, including the Tael presented here, were struck with the original dies at a later date in the 1970s, with a mint in Switzerland issuing sets of the denominations in their intended gold format. Allegedly, the dies were used again in the 1980s for subsequent gold restrikes, with said dies receiving some "re-touching." Of note, one can see some subtle evidence of die rust on the present example, such as below and to the left of the P in "POO" on the dragon side, and below the "hu" character (戸) on the characters side. As such, it would appear that the present example would, at the very least, emanate from an "initial" restriking using the dies, as characteristics like the aforementioned die rust would seemingly have been removed at some point later on. Of further intrigue, one can detect similar instances of die rust and/or cracks on the silver counterparts, leading to the conclusion that some of the silver strikings with these dies may also, in fact, be later issues rather than contemporary to 1903. Estimate: $30000 - $50000 |  |
Match 1:
| Stack's Bowers Galleries (& Ponterio) > April 2024 Hong Kong Auction | Auction date: 15 April 2024 |
| Lot number: 40119 Price realized: 600,000 USD (Approx. 564,600 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: (t) CHINA. Gold K'uping Tael Pattern, CD (1907). Tientsin Mint. Kuang-hsu (Guangxu). PCGS SPECIMEN-61. L&M-1024; Fr-2; K-1541; KM-Pn302; WS-0009; Wenchao-11 (rarity: ★★★★). An enthralling, PHENOMENALLY RARE specimen with dazzling frosty devices exalted by brilliant fields. One cannot overstate the significance of K'uping Taels--arguably the pinnacle of Ch'ing Dynasty numismatics--due to their status as the first modern Chinese coins ever struck in gold. Two variations exist, dated 1906 and 1907. Both were produced in extremely limited quantities, though 1907 pieces are definitively SCARCER. Attesting to this fact, we have offered just six since 2011, with one of the six being this very example. Powerfully struck with a sharp wire rim, the present specimen brazenly displays every minute detail of its design. Attractively preserved, there is a distinct lack of contact marks of any kind. Its inviting surfaces are a consistent, warm honey color with hints of localized copper toning, mostly on the characters side. Undoubtedly, the present specimen offers a historic opportunity for any collector determined to possess one of the greatest of Chinese rarities. These very rare offerings were struck on an experimental basis as patterns only, and were never released into circulation. The plans to issue gold coinage in units of one Tael for circulation, unfortunately, never materialized. This was largely due to China's lack of gold reserves combined with the current currency being based on the silver standard. Hence, a limited number of pattern Taels were struck in 98% pure gold as patterns for the Ministry of Revenue. Ex: Patrick H. C. Tan Collection (Triton XIV - 1/2011) Lot # 1235. Estimate: $400000 - $500000 |  |
Match 2:
| Stack's Bowers Galleries (& Ponterio) > December 2023 World CCO Auction | Auction date: 7 December 2023 |
| Lot number: 30466 Price realized: 7,000 USD (Approx. 6,488 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: (t) CHINA. Gold Mace Pattern (Modern Restrike), "Year 29 (1903)". Imitating Tientsin Mint. Kuang-hsu (Guangxu). NGC PROOF-64. L&M-1021; cf. K-930; WS-0004. Plain edge restrike from original dies. A modern re-issuing of a silver type from the original dies, this stunning proof radiates a light olive-yellow hue and immense brilliance. The fields are exceptionally captivating and inviting, with frosting upon the devices and mirroring in the fields. NGC PROOF-64. Estimate: $5000 - $10000 |  |
Match 3:
| Stack's Bowers Galleries (& Ponterio) > April 2024 Hong Kong Auction | Auction date: 15 April 2024 |
| Lot number: 40120 Price realized: 260,000 USD (Approx. 244,660 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: CHINA. Silver Tael Pattern Restrike, CD (1906). Tientsin Mint. Kuang-hsu (Guangxu). NGC MS-65. L&M-16A; cf. K-934 (no distinction made between originals & restrikes); cf. KM-Pn300 (same); cf. WS-0021 (same); cf. Wenchao-85 (rarity: ★★★★; [same]). An EXTREMELY RARE type that never caught on, this restrike of original foreshadows the later adopted Dollar-standard issue under Kuang-hsu. Incredibly attractive and enticing, this Gem radiates with impeccable lustrous brilliance and sharply incised characters and devices. Just a hint of golden toning peppers the surfaces, mostly concentrated around the devices, and serves as the only aspect that breaks an otherwise frosty, wholly argent nature. Undoubtedly an elite coin and a titan within the later imperial series, this specimen is surpassed in the NGC census by just a single example. Compare to a similar specimen from this later die state, a PCGS SPECIMEN-65 that realized a total of $1,350,000 in our October 2021 Hong Kong auction (Lot # 42054). To view all items from the Nine Dragons Collection, click here. From the Nine Dragons Collection. Estimate: $200000 - $400000 |  |
Match 4:
| Stack's Bowers Galleries (& Ponterio) > April 2024 Hong Kong Auction | Auction date: 15 April 2024 |
| Lot number: 40004 Price realized: 120,000 USD (Approx. 112,920 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: (t) CHINA. Chekiang. Brass 7 Mace 2 Candareens (Dollar) Pattern, Year 23 (1897). Esslingen (Otto Beh) Mint. Kuang-hsu (Guangxu). PCGS Genuine--Repaired, Unc Details. L&M-271 (this coin illustrated); K-Unlisted; cf. KM-56 (silver); cf. WS-1012A (unlisted composition, rarity: ★★★★★). It is rather difficult to express the STUNNING RARITY of this tantalizing and historically important pattern crown, as it may in fact be UNIQUE. Similar to other provinces, such as Anhwei and Fengtien, Chekiang had some rather elusive off-metal patterns struck in the waning years of the 20th century, as their fledgling foray into the output of "Dragon Dollars" and their minors was at its dawn. However, such patterns for Chekiang stand as the most formidable of challenges. Similar to the next lot, examples are simply not encountered in the marketplace. The Norman Jacobs example of a Chekiang brass pattern--the smallest denomination in the series, as the "3.2 Candareens" error--realized the then-lofty hammer of $24,000 in August 2008, attesting to the intrigue that it created. Given the immense change within the market of the vintage Chinese series in the decade-and-a-half since, and the fact that this crown--the capstone denomination and one that is plated in the newest edition of L&M--offers so much history and boundless appeal, it is difficult to fathom the heights which it could attain when crossing the auction block. The recent discovery of production material has shone new light on the creation of this coinage. Such findings included patterns, dies, hubs and a series of punches from the archives of the Otto Beh company in Esslingen, Germany. Before this, the origin of the dies used to produce coinage for the provinces of Anhwei, Chekiang, Fengtien, Heilungkiang and Sungarei was only speculated upon. Otto Beh was a specialist in the production of seals and dies. From neighboring Goppingen, Louis Schuler received an order for coining presses in 1895 and commissioned Otto Beh to manufacture the dies. In 1897 and 1898, Beh supplied Schuler with over 200 dies for Chinese coins. At the time, this was the largest order that the company had ever received. Schuler, which started as a Locksmith's shop in 1839, had grown to become one of the world's leaders in metal forming and, in fact, supplied the aforementioned mints with coining presses. To view all items from the KL Collection, click here. From the KL Collection. Estimate: $200000 - $400000 |  |
Match 5:
| Stack's Bowers Galleries (& Ponterio) > April 2024 Hong Kong Auction | Auction date: 15 April 2024 |
| Lot number: 40121 Price realized: 100,000 USD (Approx. 94,100 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: (t) CHINA. Silver Dollar Pattern, CD (1907). Tientsin Mint. Kuang-hsu (Guangxu). PCGS MS-62+. L&M-20; K-212 = KM; WS-0025; Wenchao-89 (rarity: ★★). A stand out design from among those issued during the penultimate year in the reign of Kuang-hsu (and the final years of imperial China more broadly), this exceptional pattern issue resides at the cusp of Choice status, offering tantalizing brilliance and great crispness to the strike. Some tinges of burnished toning are observed only at the extremes of the peripheries, with very clean fields that would seemingly hint at an even loftier designation. For the connoisseur of this period's issues, the present example is no doubt one of the more alluring and enchanting that one will likely encounter. As such, it should be considered a very important and equally VERY RARE opportunity. This Dollar is a representative of the first set of "Tai Ch'ing Ti Kuo" silver coinage. These issues--struck in limited quantities with a familiar obverse design based upon the imperial copper issues beginning in 1906--were placed into circulation and, in less than a year, were replaced by the 1908 issues. Estimate: $100000 - $150000 |  |
