Heritage World Coin Auctions
Hong Kong Signature Sale 3047 22-24 June 2016
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China
Kwangtung. Empire copper Specimen Pattern Dollar ND (1889) SP64+ Brown PCGS, Kwangtung mint, cf. L&M-128, cf. Kann-21, KM-Pn8, Cheng pg. 196, #2. An extremely rare copper striking for this very early machine-produced Kwangtung pattern that was made from equipment procured from the Heaton Mint in Birmingham, England. This pattern, the second produced for this dragon dollar design, changed the proposed fineness from the initial 7 mace and 3 candareens, to what would become the adopted standard through the end of the Empire, 7 mace and 2 candareens. Much like the first iteration of patterns however, the "reverse pattern" moniker would stick, as the English surrounding the Manchu and Chinese characters would later be moved around the dragon, thus being reversed from the standard design. After the design was finalized and the legends moved, it would become the first dragon dollar to be struck on modernized equipment in China, and thus became the standard for all the provincial dragon dollars that would follow. As such, this coin's importance in shaping modern Chinese coinage cannot be understated.In addition to the historical importance that accompanies this coin, it also happens to benefit from exceptional preservation and eye-appeal. The strike is absolutely full and the copper surfaces remains glossy to the point of near-prooflike with even brown color that lightens to original mint red around portions of both sides. Traces of iridescent blue, green and gold accompany much of the brown, and no spots are present. A few tiny ticks and a couple as-struck lintmarks are noted for accuracy's sake, but they take on no visual significance. An absolute marvel of existence, and when combined with the historical importance of the piece, one of the most significant issues from the modernized era of Chinese coinage.
Estimate: 200000-250000 USD
Kwangtung. Empire copper Specimen Pattern Dollar ND (1889) SP64+ Brown PCGS, Kwangtung mint, cf. L&M-128, cf. Kann-21, KM-Pn8, Cheng pg. 196, #2. An extremely rare copper striking for this very early machine-produced Kwangtung pattern that was made from equipment procured from the Heaton Mint in Birmingham, England. This pattern, the second produced for this dragon dollar design, changed the proposed fineness from the initial 7 mace and 3 candareens, to what would become the adopted standard through the end of the Empire, 7 mace and 2 candareens. Much like the first iteration of patterns however, the "reverse pattern" moniker would stick, as the English surrounding the Manchu and Chinese characters would later be moved around the dragon, thus being reversed from the standard design. After the design was finalized and the legends moved, it would become the first dragon dollar to be struck on modernized equipment in China, and thus became the standard for all the provincial dragon dollars that would follow. As such, this coin's importance in shaping modern Chinese coinage cannot be understated.In addition to the historical importance that accompanies this coin, it also happens to benefit from exceptional preservation and eye-appeal. The strike is absolutely full and the copper surfaces remains glossy to the point of near-prooflike with even brown color that lightens to original mint red around portions of both sides. Traces of iridescent blue, green and gold accompany much of the brown, and no spots are present. A few tiny ticks and a couple as-struck lintmarks are noted for accuracy's sake, but they take on no visual significance. An absolute marvel of existence, and when combined with the historical importance of the piece, one of the most significant issues from the modernized era of Chinese coinage.
Estimate: 200000-250000 USD