Watch List notes:

CHINA. Tibet. Gold Presentation Tangka, ND (1910). Dode Mint. PCGS MS-63.
L&M-Unlisted; cf. KM-Y-14 (for silver issue); cf. WS-0264 (same); YZM-Unlisted. "Ga-den" series; variety with six dots. Weight: 4.97 gms. Soaring to the rarified air of the uppermost reaches of RARITY, this miraculous Tibetan Presentation Tangka delivers a charm that hard to match with any other specimen. Nearly flawlessly executed in the off-metal gold, with refined details and a strike quality that leaves little to be desired. Pale golden luster shimmers off the flan in a joyous dance of attractivity. The only issue of consequence, marginal at that, is a very light amount of deep color that has built up within the devices. A piece that elevates the already desirable monk presentation Tangka to new heights with its striking in gold.

Struck in the style of the 1910 Silver Tangka that was allegedly presented to Monks during the Monlam festival of that year. It is unknown why any were struck in gold, though extant examples of gold specimens are thought to number less than 5. Our extensive research has turned up 4 known examples: this example; one in the collection of Wolfgang Bertsch that is imaged on his website; one that appeared in Album Auction 12 as lot #900; and one specimen permanently impounded in the British Museum. As such, this piece remains one of the most elusive issues in the entirely history of Tibetan numismatics.

From the Hardie Collection.

Estimate: $15000 - $30000