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20 000 USDPrice realized:
55 000 USD Find similar lots
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China
Kwangtung. Kuang-hsü Specimen Trial 20 Cents (1 Mace 4-3/5 Candareens) ND (1889) SP63 NGC, Heaton mint, KM-Y196, L&M-125A, Kann-18, Sweeny-CN28s, WS-0933, cf. Wenchao-554 (for circulation strike; rarity 3 stars). With denomination written as 1 MACE AND 4 3/5 CANDAREENS. By Alan Wyon. Of the highest rarity within the early Kwangtung series, with no value given for the Proof strikings of the type in the Standard Catalog of World Coins, this specimen striking stands as the earliest issue produced on the eve of the opening of the Kwangtung mint in 1889. Despite not being noted as such on the holder, Lin and Ma note that all mirror-like strikings are assumed to be trials struck by the Heaton mint. Though perhaps not produced to quite so low of numbers as originally supposed by Kann, who stated that only two trial sets of the denominations from the 5 Cents through the Dollar were produced by/for the southern mint (on this point his wording is ambiguous) before official production began, a total of 3 examples currently existing in the PCGS census, these special strikings with Proof fields are nonetheless extremely elusive, with perhaps only a handful of pieces of all 5 denominations known to exist. Boasting a covetable pedigree alongside its impressive grade, this piece contains a steely patina distributed evenly over the fields amidst subtle die polish and a fully reflective flash.
Ex. Wa She Wong Collection (Stack's Bowers Auction 162, August 2011, Lot 60428)
https://coins.ha.com/itm/china/china-kwangtung-kuang-hsu-specimen-trial-20-cents-1-mace-4-3-5-candareens-nd-1889-sp63-ngc-/a/3092-38211.s?type=CoinArchives3092
HID02906262019
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Estimate: 20000-25000 USD