Stack's Bowers & Ponterio
May 2022 Hong Kong Auction 3-9 May 2022
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(t) CHINA. Copper-Nickel 50 Cents Pattern, Year 30 (1941). Chengdu Mint. PCGS MS-63.
KM-PnC194 (similar to KM-Y-362); K-863III; Zhou-RC.10.2. An EXCEEDINGLY RARE wartime pattern, these pieces first produced in 1941 to test the viability of Copper-Nickel compositions, an alloy later adopted for general circulation in 1942 and 1943. This example is fairly well struck, with just a touch of weakness. An exceptionally handsome specimen that is certain to catch many eyes on account of the RARITY of the piece and the story surrounding the production of these issues. Though listed on the holder as [KM]-Y-362, that is in reference to the similar, non-Pattern type.
KM-PnC194 (similar to KM-Y-362); K-863III; Zhou-RC.10.2. An EXCEEDINGLY RARE wartime pattern, these pieces first produced in 1941 to test the viability of Copper-Nickel compositions, an alloy later adopted for general circulation in 1942 and 1943. This example is fairly well struck, with just a touch of weakness. An exceptionally handsome specimen that is certain to catch many eyes on account of the RARITY of the piece and the story surrounding the production of these issues. Though listed on the holder as [KM]-Y-362, that is in reference to the similar, non-Pattern type.
Pure nickel coinage that had existed in the Republic of China prior to the Japanese invasion of 1937 had long since disappeared from circulation by 1941. The primary cause was Japanese hoarding and melting of these issues, as nickel was a critical material needed for the war effort. These Copper-Nickel strikes were produced in the hope that they might escape melting. This proved too optimistic, and by the end of the Second Sino-Japanese War, these issues themselves had all but disappeared from circulation.
Estimate: $8000 - $12000