Heritage World Coin Auctions
CSNS Signature Sale 3099 5-7 May 2022
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China
Yunnan. Republic Specimen Essai 1/2 Tael (1/2 Bya) ND (1943-1944) SP61 PCGS, Hanoi mint, KM-X Unl., L&M-Unl., Maz-Unl., Gad-Unl., Lec-321 (2 examples know). Plain edge. By René Mercier. A thoroughly fascinating and historic offering and one of the most instantly recognizable issues of not only the French-Chinese opium trade, but of Southeast Asian numismatics, with two examples known, both of which Heritage has had the immense pleasure of handling in the last two years. Reflecting deeply the impact of foreign colonial interests across the geography of southeast Asia in the aftermath of the Opium Wars, these particular designs were commissioned by the French customs authorities (Doanes et Régies) in 1943 in an effort to maintain a monopoly on the trade in French Indo-China. Having discovered that the rural populations of the mountains in Yunnan would only accept payments in silver coins, the newly created Opium Purchasing Bureau contacted René Mercier to produce designs for a 1/2 and 1 Tael pieces, with the adopted pattern featuring the Chinese character Fu ("wealth") in Art déco style on the obverse, and Chinese and Laotian text on the reverse, reading "Genuine Silver, 1 (or 1/2) Tael."
A behemoth of the French Indo-China series, with production issues garnering substantial sums when found in comparable conditions of recent. Distinguished by the "ESSAI" stamp to the reverse and a laudably bold strike resulting in near-medallic features that project boldly towards the viewer, providing instant verification of additional care and attention to detail that accompanied the piece's production. Dressed in a veil of steel patination and amber silhouettes serving to obscure light instances of handling and wisps, this specimen is catapulted to an entirely new tier of rarity for the series, and is expected to entice even the most discerning of collectors.
https://coins.ha.com/itm/china/yunnan/china-yunnan-republic-specimen-essai-1-2-tael-1-2-bya-nd-1943-1944-sp61-pcgs-/a/3099-30179.s?type=DA-DMC-CoinArchives-WorldCoins-3099-05052022
HID02906262019
© 2022 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved
Estimate: 30000-50000 USD
Yunnan. Republic Specimen Essai 1/2 Tael (1/2 Bya) ND (1943-1944) SP61 PCGS, Hanoi mint, KM-X Unl., L&M-Unl., Maz-Unl., Gad-Unl., Lec-321 (2 examples know). Plain edge. By René Mercier. A thoroughly fascinating and historic offering and one of the most instantly recognizable issues of not only the French-Chinese opium trade, but of Southeast Asian numismatics, with two examples known, both of which Heritage has had the immense pleasure of handling in the last two years. Reflecting deeply the impact of foreign colonial interests across the geography of southeast Asia in the aftermath of the Opium Wars, these particular designs were commissioned by the French customs authorities (Doanes et Régies) in 1943 in an effort to maintain a monopoly on the trade in French Indo-China. Having discovered that the rural populations of the mountains in Yunnan would only accept payments in silver coins, the newly created Opium Purchasing Bureau contacted René Mercier to produce designs for a 1/2 and 1 Tael pieces, with the adopted pattern featuring the Chinese character Fu ("wealth") in Art déco style on the obverse, and Chinese and Laotian text on the reverse, reading "Genuine Silver, 1 (or 1/2) Tael."
A behemoth of the French Indo-China series, with production issues garnering substantial sums when found in comparable conditions of recent. Distinguished by the "ESSAI" stamp to the reverse and a laudably bold strike resulting in near-medallic features that project boldly towards the viewer, providing instant verification of additional care and attention to detail that accompanied the piece's production. Dressed in a veil of steel patination and amber silhouettes serving to obscure light instances of handling and wisps, this specimen is catapulted to an entirely new tier of rarity for the series, and is expected to entice even the most discerning of collectors.
https://coins.ha.com/itm/china/yunnan/china-yunnan-republic-specimen-essai-1-2-tael-1-2-bya-nd-1943-1944-sp61-pcgs-/a/3099-30179.s?type=DA-DMC-CoinArchives-WorldCoins-3099-05052022
HID02906262019
© 2022 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved
Estimate: 30000-50000 USD