Continuing our recap of the Stack’s Bowers and Ponterio April Hong Kong
Showcase Auction we feature today a gold medal from a pivotal moment in Chinese
history. This gold medal brought amazing results, realizing $47,800 and surpassing
the high estimate. This piece of exonumia, along with many others, brought
fantastic results in our auction, and if you want to make these results your
own, consign to our upcoming August sales: our official auction of the ANA World’s
Fair of Money in Anaheim California and our Showcase Auction in Hong Kong. In
case you wanted to read further, the original article can be found below.
The Boxers seized the city of Tientsin in June 1900, and the Eight Nation
Alliance (Germany, United States of America, France, United Kingdom, Italy,
Japan, Russia and Austria-Hungary) recaptured the city on July 14th. Two weeks
later the Alliance formed a provisional government on July 30th. For nearly two
years the provisional government exerted military control over the city of
Tientsin and the surrounding area. Toward the end of the spring of 1902,
Governor Yuan Shih-kai of Chihli began talks to return control of the city and
its environs to the Qing government. Tientsin Tutung Yamen ceased to be on
August 15th, but during its tenure it produced gold and silver medals, with the
gold examples only presented to the foreign dignitaries of the provisional
government. This medal is of great
historical importance, clearly representing an international effort to
stabilize the rapidly deteriorating control of the Qing dynasty. Only a small
number of these gold medals are extant today, with most other examples impaired
in some capacity. The piece presented here is absolutely stunning, with beautiful
luster, pristine enamel on the nation’s flags and choice honeycomb gold
coloration. It is truly a world class example by any measure, and worthy of inclusion in the
most advanced collection.
The obverse design features an impressive vexillogic display (left to
right, Germany, the United States of America, France, Great Britain, the
Kingdom of Italy, Japan and Russia). Just below the flags appears a banner
stating: “PAX LABOR.” The outer French inscription states “Provisional
Government of the District of Tientsin,” with the dates of 1900-1902. The
reverse displays a central two line Chinese inscription within a laurel and oak
wreath.
We are now accepting consignments of world and ancient coins for our
August 2016 ANA World’s Fair of Money auction as well as Chinese and other
Asian coins and currency for our August 2016 Hong Kong Showcase Auction. Time
is running short, so if you are interested in consigning your coins and paper
currency (whether a whole collection or a single rarity) be sure to contact one
of our consignment directors.
