At
the root of collecting is the preservation of history and the stories that
accompany the items. Lot 62130 of the
recently completed Stack’s Bowers and Ponterio Hong Kong auction comes with a
personal story that adds to its appeal. This Pavilion Dollar dated year 10 of
the Republic has a three-quarter facing bust of President Hsu Shih Chang and
was graded PCGS SP-62. While it is a classic
Republican era issue and is highly sought after, it is the story of this particular
piece that makes it really interesting and special.
Dr.
Andrew Woods acquired this Pavilion dollar before he left China in 1928. Dr. Woods became the head of the Neurology Department
at the New Peking Union Medical College in 1919 and sought to expand his
department to include Psychiatry. When
the funds needed for the expansion fell through, Dr. Woods tendered his
resignation and returned to America with his family. The New Peking Union Medical College today is
one of the most prestigious colleges in all of China and has since changed its
name to the Peking Union Medical College. During our auction Dr. Woods’ dollar
attracted spirited bidding before the hammer finally fell on an astonishing $38,240
(including the buyer’s fee).
Stack’s
Bowers is currently accepting consignments for our January 2017 New York
International Numismatic Convention sale, as well as our April 2017 Hong Kong
auction. For more information on consigning to these or another of our upcoming
events, call 800-458-4646 and speak to a consignment specialist.
