This
week we offer another highlight from the Q. David Bowers Collection of Chinese
Copper Coins to be offered in our April 2-4, 2018 Hong Kong auction as a stand
along catalog. Here we feature the
Impressive Kiangsu-Chingkiang “Huai” Pattern 20 Cash – the only known example
in private hands. The only other
specimen known is permanently impounded in the Shanghai museum (the example
plated in most reference works). This
extremely rare pattern is easily identified by the raised mintmark in the
center of the reverse. The Chingkiang
mint where this piece was manufactured was initially set up to strike 10 cash
size pieces, so additional equipment was needed for the larger denomination.
Once ready to start production, the equipment was tested and upon inspection it
was discovered that the pressure needed to strike these larger size pieces was
insufficient. Later the equipment was disassembled and sent the Nanjing mint.
The
obverse features the standard Imperial dragon in the clouds with flame ball at
center all within a beaded border. The obverse legend reads “TAI CHING-TI-KUO
COPPER COIN” in English letters with Chinese inscription “Guangxu nian zao”
(Guangxu era). The reverse displays both
Chinese and Manchu script with the central legend that reads from top to bottom
and right to left as “Da qing tong bi” (Qing copper coin) with the raised
mintmark “Huai” at center within beaded border. The outer legend consists of
both Chinese and Manchu inscriptions; the latter is the equivalent to the
central Chinese inscription, flanked by the cyclical date “Bing wu” (1906). The
central outer legend “Hu bu” (Board of Revenue) and the lower outer legend
reads as “Dang zhi qian er shi wen” (Value of 20 Cash). Though short lived due to technical
difficulties, the strike is well executed. The opportunity to acquire an
example of this important issue should not be missed as it may not occur again
for many years.
We
are no longer accepting consignments for our April Hong Kong auction. We are
however taking consignments of world and ancient coins and world paper money
for our May Collectors Choice Online (CCO), our August 2018 Hong Kong, August
2018 American Numismatic Association (ANA), our October 2018 Collectors Choice
Online (CCO) and our 2019 New York International Numismatic Convention (NYINC)
auctions. If you are interested in consigning your coins and paper currency
(whether a whole collection or a single rarity) contact one of our consignment
directors.
