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Hong Kong Signature Sale 3095 11-13 Dec 2021
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China
Republic Sun Yat-sen silver Specimen Pattern Dollar Year 26 (1937)-S SP63 PCGS, San Francisco mint, KM-Pn185, L&M-117, Kann-636, Chang-CH210 (Most Extremely Rare), Shanghai Museum-730, Shi Jiagan Collection-632, WS-0156, Wenchao-934 (rarity 4 stars). By all metrics an extraordinarily rare Pattern, missing even from such famous collections as those of Goodman, Jacobs, and Wa She Wong, with perhaps only an extraordinarily small handful having occurred on auction in the last several decades. In the course of our research, we have been able to locate a mere four other examples: Baldwin's Auction 58 (April 2015, Lot 628), Baldwin's Auction 48 (February 2010, Lot 506), ChengXuan Autumn Auction (November 2006, Lot 2851 [part]), and Henry Christensen Sesquicentennial Sale (December 1981, Lot 160 [reportedly ex. Kann]). One of only 2 certified at PCGS, with none yet seen by NGC, this extremely handsome issue contains an even satin finish to the fields, accentuating its crisp execution, while darkened toning accents given a sharp visual pop to the obverse features.
The type features the P'u (ancient spade coin) motif on the reverse that would become the trademark of this so-called "universal" series of the late Republic. According to official records, on July 27, 1936, the Chinese Ministry of Finance elected to utilize 3 million ounces of fine silver held in the United States on account of China to mint silver Dollars. These were meant to be a token coinage with a lesser intrinsic silver value, containing only 0.720 fineness, with the initial batch produced comprising around 10 million coins. Though dated to 1936 (Year 25), the shipment did not arrive in Hong Kong until after the outbreak of the Sino-Japanese War in August 1937. Wright suggests that it is likely that contemporary circumstances thus militated against further experiments into the currency, and most of the issue was subsequently withdrawn and melted down. While the design ultimately proved successful in that it was adopted for a subsidiary coinage of 20, 10, and 5 cents from January 1936, the place of the present Pattern is much more uncertain. Kann supposes that some of these pieces may have been struck in Shanghai from master dies produced in San Francisco, though admittedly the coins he refers to lack the tiny S mintmark at the base of the reverse. Wright's article on the Mint of Shanghai makes no explicit reference to the S-signed Patterns either.
https://coins.ha.com/itm/china/china-republic-sun-yat-sen-silver-specimen-pattern-dollar-year-26-1937-s-sp63-pcgs-/a/3095-34082.s?type=DA-DMC-CoinArchives-WorldCoins-3095-12112021
HID02906262019
© 2020 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved
Estimate: 40000-60000 USD
Republic Sun Yat-sen silver Specimen Pattern Dollar Year 26 (1937)-S SP63 PCGS, San Francisco mint, KM-Pn185, L&M-117, Kann-636, Chang-CH210 (Most Extremely Rare), Shanghai Museum-730, Shi Jiagan Collection-632, WS-0156, Wenchao-934 (rarity 4 stars). By all metrics an extraordinarily rare Pattern, missing even from such famous collections as those of Goodman, Jacobs, and Wa She Wong, with perhaps only an extraordinarily small handful having occurred on auction in the last several decades. In the course of our research, we have been able to locate a mere four other examples: Baldwin's Auction 58 (April 2015, Lot 628), Baldwin's Auction 48 (February 2010, Lot 506), ChengXuan Autumn Auction (November 2006, Lot 2851 [part]), and Henry Christensen Sesquicentennial Sale (December 1981, Lot 160 [reportedly ex. Kann]). One of only 2 certified at PCGS, with none yet seen by NGC, this extremely handsome issue contains an even satin finish to the fields, accentuating its crisp execution, while darkened toning accents given a sharp visual pop to the obverse features.
The type features the P'u (ancient spade coin) motif on the reverse that would become the trademark of this so-called "universal" series of the late Republic. According to official records, on July 27, 1936, the Chinese Ministry of Finance elected to utilize 3 million ounces of fine silver held in the United States on account of China to mint silver Dollars. These were meant to be a token coinage with a lesser intrinsic silver value, containing only 0.720 fineness, with the initial batch produced comprising around 10 million coins. Though dated to 1936 (Year 25), the shipment did not arrive in Hong Kong until after the outbreak of the Sino-Japanese War in August 1937. Wright suggests that it is likely that contemporary circumstances thus militated against further experiments into the currency, and most of the issue was subsequently withdrawn and melted down. While the design ultimately proved successful in that it was adopted for a subsidiary coinage of 20, 10, and 5 cents from January 1936, the place of the present Pattern is much more uncertain. Kann supposes that some of these pieces may have been struck in Shanghai from master dies produced in San Francisco, though admittedly the coins he refers to lack the tiny S mintmark at the base of the reverse. Wright's article on the Mint of Shanghai makes no explicit reference to the S-signed Patterns either.
https://coins.ha.com/itm/china/china-republic-sun-yat-sen-silver-specimen-pattern-dollar-year-26-1937-s-sp63-pcgs-/a/3095-34082.s?type=DA-DMC-CoinArchives-WorldCoins-3095-12112021
HID02906262019
© 2020 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved
Estimate: 40000-60000 USD