There are many highlights and exceptional rarities in our upcoming October Hong Kong auction, principal among them is a fabled "long-whisker" pattern dollar designed by Luigi Giorgi, the accomplished head of the central mint at Tientsin during the closing years of the Qing Empire and the first decade of the Republic. This instantly recognizable type stands as the first variation of the popular "dragon in the clouds" design, presenting long whiskers on the highly expressive face of the dragon. It is additionally known as the "ordinary reverse," as the character side displays the same design as was adopted on the 1911 circulation strike issues. Incredibly rare and seldom encountered, this type has been missing from most of the more prominent Chinese collections, such as those of Irving Goodman, Dr. Norman Jacobs, and the Chang Foundation.
In our October Hong Kong auction, Stack’s Bowers Galleries is pleased to present a true Gem that has survived and passed through not one, but two monumental collections—those of Eduard Kann and Wa She Wong. This majestic specimen, offered in lot 41244, is graded PCGS SPECIMEN-65 and stands as the single finest of the type graded by either of the two major services. It features a needle sharp strike with crisp and well-defined devices along with light, delicate patina. Between its incredible quality, awesome overall design, and legendary rarity, we believe it will generate immense enthusiasm among collectors of Chinese coins specifically, world crowns more broadly, and even pattern and trial issues; it certainly checks each and every box illustriously.
To view our upcoming auction schedule and future offerings, please visit StacksBowers.com where you may register and participate in this and other forthcoming sales.
We are always seeking coins, medals, and paper money for future auctions, and are currently accepting submissions for our official auction of the 2021 N.Y.I.N.C. in January and our next CCO (Collectors Choice Online) auction in February 2021. If you would like to learn more about consigning, whether a singular item or an entire collection, please contact one of our consignment directors today and we will assist you in achieving the best possible return on your material.
