| Heritage World Coin Auctions > Hong Kong Signature Sale 3111 | Auction date: 9 December 2023 |
| Lot number: 34003 Price realized: 10,000 USD (Approx. 9,287 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: Annam Tu Duc 5 Tien ND (1848-1883) UNC Details (Reverse Cleaned) NGC, KM457.1, Schr-359, S&H-4.10.1.2. 18.75gm. Without a doubt one of the most collectible types across Annamese coinage, and one that has garnered increasing interest within the last few years. An instantly recognizable issue, this "Five Happinesses" 5 Tien features five auspicious bats, each strikingly crisp and embellished with a subtle mauve silhouette, and sure to pique the interest of quality-conscious collectors. https://coins.ha.com/itm/annam/annam-tu-duc-5-tien-nd-1848-1883-unc-details-reverse-cleaned-ngc-/a/3111-34003.s?type=DA-DMC-CoinArchives-WorldCoins-3111-12092023 HID02906262019 © 2023 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved Estimate: 5000-7000 USD |  |
Match 1:
| Heritage World Coin Auctions > Hong Kong Signature Sale 3111 | Auction date: 9 December 2023 |
| Lot number: 34002 Price realized: 5,500 USD (Approx. 5,108 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: Annam Tu Duc 3 Tien ND (1848-1883) MS62 NGC, KM442, Schr-407a, S&H-4.12.1.2. 11.18gm. Inspiring for the type and one we haven't handled of this variety in quite some time, dating back to 2015. On offer is an attractive "Three Stages of Longevity" 3 Tien, relaying ample detail and originality unlike any that have come to market recently. Amber hues resonate across the fully struck-up devices, relaying a superior eye appeal and state of preservation. https://coins.ha.com/itm/annam/annam-tu-duc-3-tien-nd-1848-1883-ms62-ngc-/a/3111-34002.s?type=DA-DMC-CoinArchives-WorldCoins-3111-12092023 HID02906262019 © 2023 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved Estimate: 3000-5000 USD |  |
Match 2:
| Stack's Bowers Galleries (& Ponterio) > April 2024 Hong Kong Auction | Auction date: 15 April 2024 |
| Lot number: 43013 Price realized: 18,000 USD (Approx. 16,938 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: ANNAM. "Five Bats" 5 Tien, ND (1848-83). Tu Duc. PCGS MS-62. KM-457.1; Sch-359; Thierry-V263/V264 (gold); Thierry Supplement-Unlisted; T.Z.S.L.-pg. 292 # 100; Dav-133. Weight:18.20 gms. Variety with clouds surrounding the top two bats. Obverse: "Ngu Phuc", two bats in clouds above and three bats in clouds below; Reverse: "Tu Duc Thong Bao". An exceptional Mint State representative, this stunning auspicious 5 Tien delivers crisply applied details, with strong luster and touches of deep and alluring toning throughout. A piece that will doubtlessly capture the attention of many, as examples of this type are amongst the most consistently demanded issues from Annam. The symbolism and inscription on this type represents a clever play on words where the word "Phuc" meaning happiness has a similar sound to the animal depicted, the bats. In Chinese culture the word for bat is "Fu" and is pronounced the same was as the word for good fortune. Estimate: $10000 - $15000 |  |
Match 3:
| Heritage World Coin Auctions > Hong Kong Signature Sale 3111 | Auction date: 9 December 2023 |
| Lot number: 36061 Price realized: 2,400 USD (Approx. 2,229 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: Annam Tu Duc "Meeting of the Dragons" 7 Tien ND (1848-1883) AU Details (Scratch) PCGS, KM468, Schr-347, S&H-3.4.1.3. A scarce and highly collectible large-format issue from Tu Duc's reign, featuring the Song Long motif, or meeting of the dragons. Enveloped in a uniform gunmetal patina, the piece remains largely unhandled, and were it not for the scratch across the reverse, it would be amongst the finest we've seen. https://coins.ha.com/itm/annam/annam-tu-duc-meeting-of-the-dragons-7-tien-nd-1848-1883-au-details-scratch-pcgs-/a/3111-36061.s?type=DA-DMC-CoinArchives-WorldCoins-3111-12092023 HID02906262019 © 2023 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved Estimate: 1000-2000 USD |  |
Match 4:
| Stack's Bowers Galleries (& Ponterio) > April 2024 Hong Kong Auction | Auction date: 15 April 2024 |
| Lot number: 42211 Price realized: 44,000 USD (Approx. 41,404 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: CHINA. Silver Dollar Pattern Mint Sport or Unofficial Restrike, Year 3 (1914). Tientsin Mint Dies. UNCIRCULATED Details. Cleaned. L&M-72; K-643; KM-Pn32; WS-0166; Wenchao-pg. 534#858 (rarity: ★★★); Mr. Shi Jiagan's collection-pg. 137#633; Sun-III-2-15. Weight: 24.83 gms. One of the most enigmatic issues of this Pattern we have every offered, with this piece likely representing a later made mint sport or unofficial striking of the three-quarters facing bust Pattern (L&M-72), made with official dies. Interestingly, this coin is not alone in this class of striking, and after study of other examples, this piece can be definitively linked to other certified examples of L&M-72 as well as the L. Giorgi signed patterns (L&M-73). Common characteristics include double striking, which is particularly bold on this example, and surfaces that display an as-made micro pockmarked texture. Most definitively, items in this class (both L&M-72 and L&M-73) were struck with the same reverse dies, each showing matching instances of die rust, which is heaviest near the top left tip of the 'yi' character. While it's almost certainly not a complete census, other examples in this class include lot 30193 in Heritage's December 2020 auction (L&M-72 - NGC MS-63), lot #51170 in our October 2022 Hong Kong sale (L&M-73 - NGC PR-61), and lot #51145 from our May 2022 auction (L&M-73 - NGC MS-61), which was once part of the collection of Richard Wright who authored The Modern Coinage of China, 1866-1949. Characteristics explored, it seems certain their manufacture from rusted dies ensures they were originals from the mint, however the quality of production suggests an unofficial or unsponsored piece. In fact, weighing this example yields a disparity of nearly 2 grams lighter than official issues (24.83 gms versus a standard of nearly 27 gms), which further supports the hypothesis of an unofficial strike or mint sport. Kann relays that mint sports were often the product of government minting facilities using official dies such as the present example. Because mint sport items were often a muling of different types, they are easy to distinguish, however examples are known to be struck over earlier dollars or display similar pockmarking of the surfaces, which helps draw a parallel between this piece and those classically identified as mint sport. Given these considerations, it is a fair summation to view this piece as a quasi-legitimate Pattern, produced with old original dies, on incorrect silver planchet stock. As far as the technical preservation of the piece, it remains nice, without wear but displays moderate handling in the form of hairlines. The surfaces give a soft glittering glow and a few instances of light tone. While it isn't a great surprise considering the enigmatic nature of this piece, we note that both PCGS and NGC have declined to encapsulate it, PCGS for "Authenticity Unverifiable" and NGC for "No Decision". As such, this issue must be treated as a SOLD AS IS/NO RETURNS lot. Despite the grading company decisions, we do believe that this example represents an intriguing and interesting Chinese numismatic item that raises questions of "when" and "why", but of which there is little dispute concerning the legitiamacy of the dies from which it was made. To view all items from the Nine Dragons Collection, click here. From the Nine Dragons Collection. Estimate: $5000 - $10000 |  |
Match 5:
| Stack's Bowers Galleries (& Ponterio) > January 2024 NYINC Auction | Auction date: 12 January 2024 |
| Lot number: 53273 Price realized: 100,000 USD (Approx. 91,190 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: GREAT BRITAIN. Great Britain - United States of America. Dollar (5 Shillings), ND (1804). Geroge III. PCGS EF-40. S-3766B; KM-660.1; Bull-1873 (plate coin). Authorized 2 January 1804. Countermark: Bank of England Type II (the famous "head of a fool on the neck of an ass"); Bust of George III right utilized from the then current 6 Pence within octagonal indent. Applied to the obverse of a 1798 United States of America draped bust Dollar, small eagle reverse variety (B-1; BB-82). One of only 6 confirmed examples of the host country and the only certified example for both countermark types on either the NGC or PCGS population reports. This exceptional rarity exhibits beautiful cabinet patina with richer coloration amongst the devices. When rotated in the light a dusky iridescence becomes apparent adding to its visually pleasing appearance, while slightly subdued luster in the protected areas speaks through lending to its originality. This moderately worn example offers relatively smooth surfaces with even wear consistent for the grade. Truly an awesome example of the countermark type with an excellent provenance. It is important to note that most examples of the Bank of England countermarked issues are primarily found on Spanish colonial mint Dollars (8 Reales). Occasionally Spanish mints or other European countries can be found with few other host types known. By all accounts the present piece as a 1798 small eagle reverse Dollar appears to be UNIQUE, with all other examples traced with the octagonal countermark are the large eagle reverse of 1798 (British Museum) or 1799 (The Bank of England, Norweb, Lord Hamilton/Whetmore and Sinton Collections). Both the Bank of England and British Museum collections do contain examples of the oval countermarks also on a small eagle dollars, but the later is an electrotype of a 1795 that was acquired in 2004 by famous author and collector Harrington E Manville. Mr. Manville, one of the previous owners of the present example, was a highly respected and revered academic collector of countermarked dollars of England, Scotland and Ireland. His excellent book "Tokens of the Industrial Revolution" remains to be the standard reference on the subject of merchant countermarks, but only briefly touches on Bank of England issues. For a more detailed account of the operations surrounding the Bank of England countermarked coinage Mr. E.M. Kelly author of "Spanish Dollars and Silver Tokens" offers a reasonable explanation. According to Kelly, The Bank of England sent bags of 1,000 troy ounces of coins to the mint to be countermarked rather than specific Dollar amounts. Apparently, the bank was not particular about what the bags contained as long as the were the prescribed even weight of 1,000 ounces. Though the minors that carry these marks are considered by some to be spurious in nature, the most logical reason why so many exist today was to make up the weight deficiency. Unfortunately, the neither the mint or the bank kept records of each type or denomination that was countermarked. Ex: A-Tokyo Collection. Ex: Dr. Bruno Mantegazza Collection (Spink 3/1996) Lot # 87. Ex: Inveruglas Collection (Noble 7/1995) Lot # 4518. Ex: Hopetown House Collection (Spink 11/1988) Lot # 379. Ex: H.D. Gibbs Collection (Schulman 11/1960) Lot # 100. Purchased and sold privately by H. E. Manville between the Gibbs Collection and Hopetown collections. Plated in English Silver Coins by Maurice Bull pg. 267. Estimate: $100000 - $150000 |  |
