Heritage World Coin Auctions
Hong Kong Signature Sale 3077 5-6 Dec 2019
View prices realized
► Sale information
Find similar lots
China
Warring States Period. State of Chu gold "Block or Cube Money" Ying Yuan or Yuan Jin Sheet ND (400-220 BC) Certified MS62+ by Gong Bo Grading, cf. Hartill-5.3 (Extremely Rare). 62x59mm. 247.9gm. Divided into roughly 18 squares, each stamped "Ying Yuan" (Ying being the capital city of Chu, and Yuan the unit of weight). One of many diverse forms of coinage employed during the tumultuous Warring States Period--alongside spades, knives, round coins, and "ant nose money"--the gold cube or block money, however, immediate stands out amongst the rest. The earliest gold currency yet discovered in China, the Ying Yuan or Yuan Jin were cast in long, thin sheets approximately 3-5mm in thickness. The sheets were divided into either square or round sections, each bearing a set of characters, usually the name of a city and the unit of weight. Although these pieces were first reported in historical and numismatic texts as early as AD 1050, their characters and origin was not properly discerned until 1878. Hartill has suggested that these sheets were purpose made to be chopped up into individual units, rather than the stamps serving as validation for the larger ingot, and indeed this is how the majority of specimens survive--in either one or two square units, making larger blocks or sheets extremely rare. For his part, Hartill records a sheet of 15 squares in his book, which he notes to be of the highest rarity. We note that a well-preserved sheet of 6 squares brought in excess of $25,000 in CNG's Triton XIX Sale (lot 2276), suggesting that the appearance of such a specimen as the present at auction is virtually unprecedented. Some hard deposits exist on the back of the piece, giving one of the few senses of its immense age. Of the highest significance, and a once in a lifetime opportunity to be sure.
https://coins.ha.com/itm/china/china-warring-states-period-state-of-chu-gold-block-or-cube-money-ying-yuan-or-yuan-jin-sheet-nd-400-220-bc-cert/a/3077-38135.s?type=CoinArchives3077
HID02906262019
© 2019 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved
Estimate: 80000-120000 USD
Warring States Period. State of Chu gold "Block or Cube Money" Ying Yuan or Yuan Jin Sheet ND (400-220 BC) Certified MS62+ by Gong Bo Grading, cf. Hartill-5.3 (Extremely Rare). 62x59mm. 247.9gm. Divided into roughly 18 squares, each stamped "Ying Yuan" (Ying being the capital city of Chu, and Yuan the unit of weight). One of many diverse forms of coinage employed during the tumultuous Warring States Period--alongside spades, knives, round coins, and "ant nose money"--the gold cube or block money, however, immediate stands out amongst the rest. The earliest gold currency yet discovered in China, the Ying Yuan or Yuan Jin were cast in long, thin sheets approximately 3-5mm in thickness. The sheets were divided into either square or round sections, each bearing a set of characters, usually the name of a city and the unit of weight. Although these pieces were first reported in historical and numismatic texts as early as AD 1050, their characters and origin was not properly discerned until 1878. Hartill has suggested that these sheets were purpose made to be chopped up into individual units, rather than the stamps serving as validation for the larger ingot, and indeed this is how the majority of specimens survive--in either one or two square units, making larger blocks or sheets extremely rare. For his part, Hartill records a sheet of 15 squares in his book, which he notes to be of the highest rarity. We note that a well-preserved sheet of 6 squares brought in excess of $25,000 in CNG's Triton XIX Sale (lot 2276), suggesting that the appearance of such a specimen as the present at auction is virtually unprecedented. Some hard deposits exist on the back of the piece, giving one of the few senses of its immense age. Of the highest significance, and a once in a lifetime opportunity to be sure.
https://coins.ha.com/itm/china/china-warring-states-period-state-of-chu-gold-block-or-cube-money-ying-yuan-or-yuan-jin-sheet-nd-400-220-bc-cert/a/3077-38135.s?type=CoinArchives3077
HID02906262019
© 2019 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved
Estimate: 80000-120000 USD