| 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. | |
| 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 |  |
Match 1:
| Stack's Bowers Galleries (& Ponterio) > April 2024 Hong Kong Auction | Auction date: 15 April 2024 |
| Lot number: 40208 Price realized: 65,000 USD (Approx. 61,165 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: (t) CHINA. Silver "Mausoleum" Dollar Pattern, Year 16 (1927). Nanking Mint. PCGS Genuine--Cleaned, Unc Details. L&M-85; K-609; KM-Unlisted; WS-0130; Wenchao-898 (rarity: ★★★). Mintage: 480. Engraved by Richard Placht of the Vienna Mint. Though some minor cleaning is noted, this eminently desired issue remains exceptionally enchanting and attractive. A mostly argent nature is observed in the central portions of the obverse, while some champagne hues intensify as ones moves outward toward the edges. Meanwhile, the reverse is more evenly patinated, with the rising sun seemingly casting its warming rays all throughout the fields. A great opportunity for this ever-popular pattern. This heavily demanded and EXCESSIVELY RARE type is ceaselessly desirable on account of the miniscule mintage and elegant design. Despite the wonderful engraving work undertaken by the Austrian engraver, this piece was destined to fail on account of its design elements. Placht had never seen the mausoleum in question, and may also have never even seen a person of Chinese descent, making his rendering of Sun Yat-sen rather distinct from Sun's actual appearance. Kann reports a Chinese Mint official's comment that the portrait bore a much stronger resemblance to German military leader-turned-president, Paul von Hindenburg, instead of the intended Chinese hero. Estimate: $75000 - $125000 |  |
Match 2:
| Stack's Bowers Galleries (& Ponterio) > April 2024 Hong Kong Auction | Auction date: 15 April 2024 |
| Lot number: 41370 Price realized: 1,600 USD (Approx. 1,506 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: CHINA. Yunnan. Tael, ND (1943-44). Hanoi Mint. PCGS Genuine--Cleaned, Unc Details. L&M-435; K-939; KM-A3; WS-0704; Lec-325. Variety with small stag's head. Evidence of cleaning is light, as this handsome Tael exhibits a great deal of original luster and mint frost. A highly presentable example of this popular minimalistic issue. To view all items from the Nine Dragons Collection, click here. From the Nine Dragons Collection. Includes inventory tag dated "9/10/69". Estimate: $2000 - $3000 |  |
Match 3:
| Stack's Bowers Galleries (& Ponterio) > April 2024 Hong Kong Auction | Auction date: 15 April 2024 |
| Lot number: 41360 Price realized: 1,300 USD (Approx. 1,223 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: CHINA. Yunnan. 1/2 Tael, ND (1943-44). Hanoi Mint. PCGS Genuine--Cleaned, Unc Details. L&M-434; K-941; KM-A1.2; WS-0703; Lec-322. Despite its somewhat cleaned nature, this example from a rather popular type sports excellent detail remaining along with some great brilliance. To view all items from the Nine Dragons Collection, click here. From the Nine Dragons Collection. Estimate: $1000 - $1500 |  |
Match 4:
| Stack's Bowers Galleries (& Ponterio) > April 2024 Hong Kong Auction | Auction date: 15 April 2024 |
| Lot number: 40224 Price realized: 46,000 USD (Approx. 43,286 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: CHINA. Silver "Mint Sport" Dollar, ND (ca. 1930s). Tientsin Mint. PCGS MS-62. L&M-910; K-Unlisted; KM-Unlisted; WS-Unlisted. Unmistakably the product of boundless frivolity at the central mint, this alluring and EXTREMELY RARE specimen features the muling of two reverse dies for the Yuan Shih-kai series (or, quite possibly, the reverse of the "Dragon & Phoenix" large characters Dollar, given their essentially shared design). Highly brilliant and prooflike, with immense radiance in the fields and essentially no toning of which to speak. For the afficionados of the Yuan Shih-kai series, this presents an important opportunity that simply cannot be missed, as this represents the first such instance in which we have offered the type. Rather unsurprisingly, a scanning of the archives reveals that it may be quite some time indeed before another such example of the type crosses the auction block To view all items from the Nine Dragons Collection, click here. From the Nine Dragons Collection. Estimate: $20000 - $40000 |  |
Match 5:
| Stack's Bowers Galleries (& Ponterio) > April 2024 Hong Kong Auction | Auction date: 15 April 2024 |
| Lot number: 40181 Price realized: 28,000 USD (Approx. 26,348 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: CHINA. Dollar, Year 10 (1921). Tientsin Mint. PCGS Genuine--Cleaned, Unc Details. L&M-864; K-676; WS-0101; Chang-CH234. Variety with reeded edge and with legend at bottom of reverse. Though some scattered hairlines are observed within the obverse field, this otherwise uncirculated example from a very popular emission retains excellent overall brilliance and has begun to reacquire color rather enchantingly. Steely gray hues yield to a melange of champagne and olive notes at the peripheries and enveloping the devices. An incredibly popular and desirable type believed to have been a pattern issue, it now appears that these were, in fact, more medallic in nature, and meant to be given out upon the opening of the Peking Union Medical College (PUMC), the facade of which is displayed upon the reverse. Initially designed with a blank field below the pavilion for the intended recipient's name to be engraved, the reverse was altered slightly to contain the characters "紀念幣" between two rosettes, as the engraving proved difficult on the initial batch. Estimate: $15000 - $25000 |  |
