Watch List notes:

CHINA. Silver Dollar Pattern, Year 3 (1914). NGC Unc Details--Cleaned.
L&M-73; K-643a; KM-Pn33; WS-0167; Wenchao-pg. 535#859 (rarity four stars); Shanghai Museum-Mr. Shi Jiagan's collection-pg. 138#634; Sun-III-2-14. Signed by L. Giorgi. A VERY RARE and always desirable pattern type, this example exhibits very little in the way of the noted cleaning and instead displays numerous aspects of die polishing. A great opportunity for an incredibly difficult coin.

Often misunderstood, this issue -- which displays the L. Giorgi signature at the lower righthand side of the obverse -- was actually struck in two sequences, with the results being easily identifiable varieties. This type, the so-called "matte proof variety", was the first struck, and it exhibits surfaces that are dull with significant heavy die polish lines running through the fields. Likely as a result of its appearance, the dies were then significantly reworked in order to produce a coin with more traditional reflective fields; this issue can be termed the "brilliant proof variety". Upon close study of the two varieties together, one can match some of the die polish lines on both varieties. Also, when comparing Yuan Shih-kai's epaulet near L. Giorgi's signature, its appearance on the matte proof version will always be full, while significant detail is missing on the brilliant variety. It is this detail loss, as well as other more minor instances, that proves the striking sequence for these varieties. One must conclude that in the process of reworking the matte-finished dies to make dies that would produce a reflective coin, the polishing resulted in some detail loss in the dies. Because of this, collectors today can seek both varieties of this elusive type, and marvel at the fact that two coins from the same set of dies can have such a dramatically different appearance.

From the Mas Fera Collection.

Estimate: $50000.00- $70000.00