| Stack's Bowers Galleries (& Ponterio) > April 2024 Hong Kong Auction | Auction date: 15 April 2024 |
| Lot number: 40225 Price realized: 12,000 USD (Approx. 11,292 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | Show similar lots on CoinArchives Find similar lots in upcoming auctions on  |
| Lot description: (t) CHINA. Silver "Mint Sport" Dollar, ND (ca. 1950s). Tientsin Mint. PCGS Genuine--Cleaned, Unc Details. L&M-929; K-Unlisted; KM-Unlisted; WS-Unlisted. Undoubtedly emanating from idle hands at the mint, this specimen serves as a rather dramatic and interesting example of "mint sport," as it pairs reverses of two of the more iconic issues from the early Republic--that of the Yuan Shih-kai side-profile Dollar and the Sun Yat-sen "junk" Dollar. While it is difficult to assign any dating to this product of frivolity, one can see that the reverse of the Yuan Shih-kai Dollar shares all of the characteristics with that known as the "Hainan" type of 1920 (WS-0181-8). Namely, the non-bisected central leaf at the top left portion of the wreath, the somewhat 'recessed' field just interior to the denticles, and the lower right stroke of the "yuan" ending horizontally rather than with a slight uptick. These issues, known to have been struck in 1949 and circulated in the mainland until the fall of the Republic, point to a period of manufacture around this time--possibly shortly after the Republic had fallen, when such extracurricular activities could more easily be conducted. Indeed, even the "junk" side of this piece presents a somewhat recessed nature, paralleling the obverse of said "Hainan" Dollar, and alluding to similarities in method and period of manufacture. Lightly cleaned as noted, but endlessly engaging and intriguing, with exceptional brilliance and just a light degree of toning at the rims. Of the HIGHEST RARITY, and a specimen that would be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to replace. Estimate: $20000 - $40000 |  |
