Stack's Bowers & Ponterio
January 2014 NYINC Auction - Sess. A-B 10-11 January 2014
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CHINA. Shanghai Ghetto Memory Commemorative Medals, 2013.
3 pieces in lot. This is the first numismatic series related to any Jewish theme ever produced in a Chinese government mint. February 18, 2013 was the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the Shanghai (Hongkew) Ghetto by the Japanese (under pressure form Germany). The superb engraving includes several key symbolisms that dramatically highlight this piece of history that took place during WWII in Shanghai.
3 pieces in lot. This is the first numismatic series related to any Jewish theme ever produced in a Chinese government mint. February 18, 2013 was the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the Shanghai (Hongkew) Ghetto by the Japanese (under pressure form Germany). The superb engraving includes several key symbolisms that dramatically highlight this piece of history that took place during WWII in Shanghai.
The story of approximately 18,000 Jewish refugees from Germany, Austria and a last group from Poland is told through Sara, a little girl on a ghetto street holding a little panda bear toy while walking her dog. A kind anonymous Chinese woman is holding an umbrella over Sara, symbolizing how local Chinese living side-by-side, accepted the refugees as neighbors during this storm in history.
The commemoratives are the first ever in China to be one-hundred percent individually etched on the obverse side face, with certificate numbers identifying each piece in the series. The mintages are as follows: 5 oz. gold (60 mm) 36 pieces; 1 oz. gold (32 mm) 570 pieces; 1 oz. silver (40 mm) 5,773 pieces.
The medals and scroll representing a mezuah seen on the on the doorpost of a Jewish home in the ghetto is housed in a wood box with a glass top that is explained on a certificate connecting the story of The Night of Broken Glass (Kristallnacht) that took place in November 1938, escalating the flight of Jewish people out of Europe, including to Shaghai.
The first 200 sets, including set #12, have a special artistic scene from the medal on the bottom of the box, as well as a special hand drawn autographed (Rocky & Qiming Zhao) certificate of a dove symbolizing "Peace & Tolerance", both with the corresponding serial numbers that are on the medals. The 5 oz. gold #12 is housed in its own box, while the 1 oz. gold and 1 oz. silver matching pair #12 are combined in one special box. Double-sealed in boxes with certificates of authenticity. GEM BRILLIANT PROOF.