Stack's Bowers & Ponterio
May 2022 Hong Kong Auction 3-9 May 2022
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CHINA. Silver "Mausoleum" Dollar Pattern, Year 16 (1927). Nanking Mint. NGC MS-63.
L&M-85; K-609; WS-0130; Wenchao-898 (rarity: ★★★); Sun-III-4-01. Engraved by Richard Placht at the Vienna Mint. Mintage: 480. This exceptionally serene issue handles itself amazingly well, with a boldly applied strike and strokes of charming and vibrant toning. The deeper hue illuminates the sky in a dance of color that rivals the rising sun itself. This specimen is nearly free from contact or friction, and the grade assigned by the old NGC holder merely confirms what is plainly visible, namely the highly choice status of this piece.
Estimate: $70000 - $100000
L&M-85; K-609; WS-0130; Wenchao-898 (rarity: ★★★); Sun-III-4-01. Engraved by Richard Placht at the Vienna Mint. Mintage: 480. This exceptionally serene issue handles itself amazingly well, with a boldly applied strike and strokes of charming and vibrant toning. The deeper hue illuminates the sky in a dance of color that rivals the rising sun itself. This specimen is nearly free from contact or friction, and the grade assigned by the old NGC holder merely confirms what is plainly visible, namely the highly choice status of this piece.
This heavily demanded and EXCESSIVELY RARE type is ceaselessly desirable on account of the miniscule mintage and elegant design. Despite the wonderful engraving work undertaken by the Austrian engraver, this piece was destined to fail on account of its design elements. Placht had never seen the mausoleum in question on the reverse, and may have never even seen a Chinese person, making his rendering of Sun Yat-sen rather distinct from the actual appearance the latter. Kann reports a Chinese Mint official's comment that the portrait bore a much stronger resemblance to German military leader-turned-president, Paul von Hindenburg instead.
Estimate: $70000 - $100000