Heritage World Coin Auctions
Hong Kong Signature Sale 3074 27-28 Jun 2019
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China
T'ung-Chih gold Fantasy 25 Taels (25 Liang) Year 10 (1871)-Dated (c. 1919) MS63 NGC, Uncertain mint (possibly Shanghai), KMX-M465 (recorded only in Proof), L&M-Unl., Kann-Unl. (cf. Kann-B102 for 50 Taels). An intriguing and extremely rare emission from this peculiar back-dated fantasy series postulated to possibly have been the private issues of Shanghai merchants, it is difficult not to be captivated by this coin's fantastic imagery and incredible, medallic-level of engraving that leaves no feature of the design flat or underrepresented. Dually dated to the 10th year of T'ung-Chih's era and the cyclical year xinwei, as well as featuring legends in both English and Hanzi, this particular design, with coiled dragons and the 16-armed bodhisattva Mahakala, is known with numerous variants in both the 25 and 50 Taels denomination. While the exact meaning of this imagery, particularly its ties to Tantric Buddhism, is not well-understood, they could hardly have been paired with a better canvass, thick with die polish lines and omitting all but the most insignificant marks. This is the first of this type that we have offered, and we are sure that such an immense piece will garner ample attention as it crosses the auction block, requiring bidders to place their best bids.
Ex. Patrick Tan Collection (CNG Triton XIV, 4 January 2011, Lot 1233); Hong Kong Auction 39 (2 September 2004, Lot 483); Spink-Taisei Auction 3 (11 February 1988, Lot 159), this coin being the cover coin.
HID02901242017
Estimate: 20000-30000 USD
T'ung-Chih gold Fantasy 25 Taels (25 Liang) Year 10 (1871)-Dated (c. 1919) MS63 NGC, Uncertain mint (possibly Shanghai), KMX-M465 (recorded only in Proof), L&M-Unl., Kann-Unl. (cf. Kann-B102 for 50 Taels). An intriguing and extremely rare emission from this peculiar back-dated fantasy series postulated to possibly have been the private issues of Shanghai merchants, it is difficult not to be captivated by this coin's fantastic imagery and incredible, medallic-level of engraving that leaves no feature of the design flat or underrepresented. Dually dated to the 10th year of T'ung-Chih's era and the cyclical year xinwei, as well as featuring legends in both English and Hanzi, this particular design, with coiled dragons and the 16-armed bodhisattva Mahakala, is known with numerous variants in both the 25 and 50 Taels denomination. While the exact meaning of this imagery, particularly its ties to Tantric Buddhism, is not well-understood, they could hardly have been paired with a better canvass, thick with die polish lines and omitting all but the most insignificant marks. This is the first of this type that we have offered, and we are sure that such an immense piece will garner ample attention as it crosses the auction block, requiring bidders to place their best bids.
Ex. Patrick Tan Collection (CNG Triton XIV, 4 January 2011, Lot 1233); Hong Kong Auction 39 (2 September 2004, Lot 483); Spink-Taisei Auction 3 (11 February 1988, Lot 159), this coin being the cover coin.
HID02901242017
Estimate: 20000-30000 USD