Watch List notes:

(t) CHINA. Mei-Feng Yinhang Xiaobao. American Oriental Bank Small Ingots. Silver 1 Tael Ingot, ND (ca. 1921-35). Graded "UNC" by Zhong Qian Ping Ji Grading Company.
BMC-Class XXXII Group A # 349. Weight: 34.3 gms. "A.O.B.C." (American Oriental Banking Corporation), "Mei Feng" (Mei Feng Bank) below all within circular border. This charming little ingot is quite RARE, deceptively interesting and highly important to the history of international banking in modern China. The stamp is bold and clear with good definition of the letters and characters leaving nothing to the imagination. This nicely preserved small size ingot exhibits lustrous surfaces displaying rich old cabinet patina indicative of sitting for a prolonged period of time undisturbed adding to its desirability; clearly this piece was plucked from circulation early on and treated with great care. This type seldom appears in the marketplace sure to catch the attention of many collectors worthy of serious consideration from potential bidders looking to add unusual numismatic treasures to their collections.

The issuing authority of this type, The American Oriental Banking Corporation, was the largest of all of the American banks in China. They became incorporated in 1917 and opened four branches; The American Oriental Bank of Shanghai (ca. 1917-35), The American Oriental Bank of Fukien (1922-35), The American Oriental Bank of Szechuan (1921-32) and The American Oriental Bank of Tientsin (ca. 1924-35); but by 1935 all of four branches were either bought out by their Chinese investors as in the case of the Szechuan branch or closed due to China's departure from the silver standard which caused their foreign exchange business to fail terribly.

Estimate: $1000.00- $2000.00