Stack's Bowers & Ponterio
March 2019 Hong Kong Auction 25-27 Mar 2019
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CHINA. State of Chu. "Yuan Jin" Gold Cube Money, ND (ca. 475-221 B.C.). Warring States Period. VERY FINE.
History of Chinese Currency-pg. 7, #1. 10.44 gms. Inscribed "Ying Yuan". Made in what is now Hubei province, it was cut from larger bars which allowed for the making of small denominations. In this particular case, some indeterminate fraction of one "cube" were separated from a larger set. Hartill conjectures that these stamped shapes were not meant to be specific weight units, but rather to validate the larger gold block. Historically this is China's first gold currency with a fixed shape and size. Almost entirely encrusted with red clay and other earthen deposits obscuring the design features. An interesting aspect of Chinese numismatics sure to excite even the most advanced of collectors.
Estimate: $8000.00- $10000.00
History of Chinese Currency-pg. 7, #1. 10.44 gms. Inscribed "Ying Yuan". Made in what is now Hubei province, it was cut from larger bars which allowed for the making of small denominations. In this particular case, some indeterminate fraction of one "cube" were separated from a larger set. Hartill conjectures that these stamped shapes were not meant to be specific weight units, but rather to validate the larger gold block. Historically this is China's first gold currency with a fixed shape and size. Almost entirely encrusted with red clay and other earthen deposits obscuring the design features. An interesting aspect of Chinese numismatics sure to excite even the most advanced of collectors.
Estimate: $8000.00- $10000.00