April 2026 Hong Kong Auction 13-16 Apr 2026
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1 days 21 hr 3 min
1 days 21 hr 3 min
Stack's Bowers & Ponterio
April 2026 Hong Kong Auction 13-16 Apr 2026
April 2026 Hong Kong Auction 13-16 Apr 2026
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- The Phenomenal Kweichow "Bamboo" Dollar -- A Tantalizing Rarity
(t) CHINA. Kweichow. "Bamboo" Dollar, Year 38 (1949). Uncertain Mint, possibly Kweiyang. PCGS EF-45.
L&M-613; K-758a; KM-Y-433a; WS-1113. Variety with square-framed window. No doubt among the RAREST and most desirable issues of the Republican period, this exceptional crown, so-called on account of the stalks of bamboo populating the reverse field, displays rather minimal, even wear across both sides, with an alluring level of vibrant pastel toning adding further character. The obverse depicts a detailed Chinese pavilion and, paralleling the hidden iconography of its predecessor, the ever-popular "Auto" Dollar, this piece features a small character (谷) in the doorway, thus serving as a reference to then-governor Ku Cheng-lun (Gu Zhenglun). Of note, Kann erroneously attributes this character, and the province's governorship at the time, to Kuo Tseng-kuang. Meanwhile, "T L K" appears just below it in block lettering, blending in well with the foundation of the pavilion and likely serving as a nod to the coin's engraver. While any "Bamboo" Dollar is of great significance, those remaining wholesome and without issue, such as the present piece, are simply that much RARER. On top of that aspect, this example is of the far-less encountered type, as its window on the top floor of the pavilion has straight or square framing at each side, rather than being completely round, as is much more likely the case. Examples from the "square-framed" emission are staggeringly lacking in the marketplace, with the present specimen standing as the first such instance of the type that we have offered. Furthermore, attesting to its exceptionally difficult nature, it is the first such instance of any "Bamboo" Dollar graded by PCGS and without issue since a similarly graded L&M-612 (the round window type)--a PCGS EF-45 that realized a total of $660,000 in our September 2021 Hong Kong Auction (Lot # 23048). As such, it is difficult to fathom the heights to which the present piece could soar.
Estimate: 700000 - 1000000
(t) CHINA. Kweichow. "Bamboo" Dollar, Year 38 (1949). Uncertain Mint, possibly Kweiyang. PCGS EF-45.
L&M-613; K-758a; KM-Y-433a; WS-1113. Variety with square-framed window. No doubt among the RAREST and most desirable issues of the Republican period, this exceptional crown, so-called on account of the stalks of bamboo populating the reverse field, displays rather minimal, even wear across both sides, with an alluring level of vibrant pastel toning adding further character. The obverse depicts a detailed Chinese pavilion and, paralleling the hidden iconography of its predecessor, the ever-popular "Auto" Dollar, this piece features a small character (谷) in the doorway, thus serving as a reference to then-governor Ku Cheng-lun (Gu Zhenglun). Of note, Kann erroneously attributes this character, and the province's governorship at the time, to Kuo Tseng-kuang. Meanwhile, "T L K" appears just below it in block lettering, blending in well with the foundation of the pavilion and likely serving as a nod to the coin's engraver. While any "Bamboo" Dollar is of great significance, those remaining wholesome and without issue, such as the present piece, are simply that much RARER. On top of that aspect, this example is of the far-less encountered type, as its window on the top floor of the pavilion has straight or square framing at each side, rather than being completely round, as is much more likely the case. Examples from the "square-framed" emission are staggeringly lacking in the marketplace, with the present specimen standing as the first such instance of the type that we have offered. Furthermore, attesting to its exceptionally difficult nature, it is the first such instance of any "Bamboo" Dollar graded by PCGS and without issue since a similarly graded L&M-612 (the round window type)--a PCGS EF-45 that realized a total of $660,000 in our September 2021 Hong Kong Auction (Lot # 23048). As such, it is difficult to fathom the heights to which the present piece could soar.
Estimate: 700000 - 1000000