SANTA ANA, CA. (August 23, 2017) — Stack’s Bowers and Ponterio is pleased to announce the results of their August 2017 Hong Kong Showcase Auction of Chinese Coins, Foreign Coins and Paper Money. Once again the semi-annual sale located at the Mira Hotel attracted collectors, dealers and enthusiasts from around the globe. In addition to the excellent auction sessions, the week was capped with great attendance at the third Hong Kong Coin Show.
The first coin session (Session C) began with a nice selection of Hong Kong coinage, with strong results that often exceeded the high estimate (all prices shown include the buyer’s premium). Next came vintage Chinese coins, a spectacular offering that brought exceptional results for some sycee; lot 60052, a Chinese Turkestan 50 Tael Ingot, realized $16,800 while lot 60072, a Yunnan Two Stamp Tax Ingot, garnered $20,400, vastly outperforming the high estimate of $600. The first major highlight among the Empire General Issues section was lot 60085, a 1910 Pattern Dollar (L&M-24) that realized $20,400. Lot 60090, a fantastic Reversed Dragon Pattern Dollar, garnered an impressive $72,000.
The Republic General Issues also brought exceptional results, especially lot 60103, a Li Yuan Hung with hat Dollar in fantastic condition, that realized an astounding $43,200, doubling the high estimate. More Li Yuan Hung Dollars (with and without hats, and some with collectible spelling errors) were lined up as lots 60105-09 and each realized over $11,000. A gorgeous Dragon and Peacock Dollar with vibrant toning (lot 60155) sold for $26,400. Lot 60162, a scarcely seen "Mausoleum Dollar," realized $38,400. One of the big draws of the auction was the Sun Yat-sen Pattern Junk Half Dollar (lot 60169), which resulted in a magnificent $45,600. The Provincial Issues brought phenomenal results, both expected and unexpected. Lot 60233 and 60234 were each very rare Hunan 5 Cent pieces (L&M-383) and realized $60,000 and $43,200 respectively, far exceeding their high estimates of $7,000 and $5,000. Lot 60238, a great Hupeh Tael that was expected to perform well realized $25,200.
Lot 60246, a monumental Old Kiangnan Half Dollar was featured prominently on the front cover of the catalog. Bidders eagerly brought this piece to a final realized price of $144,000. Lot 60272, a Trial Strike or Experimental Cash piece from Kwangtung, brought a surprising $18,000, far surpassing the estimates. The next two highlights also surpassed estimations: lot 60277 (a fantastic Kwangtung Pattern Cent with a goat motif) realized $50,400, while a scarcely seen Kweichow Auto Dollar, the "Three Blades of Grass" variety (lot 60279), realized $19,800. Among the Chinese Medals offered, lot 60354, a Chiang Kai-Shek Silver Medal, brought an astounding $16,800, blowing past the $1,500 estimate.
The Foreign Coin Session of the August Hong Kong sale also brought many fine prices. Lot 61024 from Cambodia, a Partial Pattern Set of the Adopted Design Struck in White Metal, garnered an impressive $36,000. Lot 61098, the finest certified Japanese Trade Dollar (of any date at either service), realized $26,400. The grouping of Thai numismatics attracted spirited bidding, with major highlights such as lot 61209, a hefty 20 Baht bullet money piece commanding $22,800 and lot 61230, a pair of modern Thai coins commemorating the Institute of Technology, that sold for $18,000 (against a high estimate of $1,200).
The Modern Chinese Coin session saw great enthusiasm, as this corner of Chinese numismatics continues to enjoy solid results. A pair of Pandas early in the section, lots 62043 and 62044 (twelve Ounce gold 1,000 Yuan Panda coins dated 1990) realized $31,200 and $23,400 respectively. Lot 62052, a 1992-dated twelve ounce gold Panda with a mintage figure of just 99 pieces, garnered $45,600, well above the high estimate. A platinum 5 Yuan dated 1997 (lot 62075), bearing the highest possible grade (Proof 70 Ultra Cameo), realized $14,400, over double its high estimate. A massive Lunar issue commemorating the cycle completion in 1992 (lot 62123) was secured for $192,000. Another six-figure result was achieved for lot 62184, a twenty ounce gold 1,500 Yuan from the Dragon and Phoenix Series, which sold for $114,000.
In addition to the staggering results for coins, the Paper Money Sessions also brought some great realizations. Session A’s highest price was for the Pick 5 Straits Settlements 1916 100 Dollar note in a PMG Choice Fine 15 Net holder that brought $24,000 in lot 50152.
Session B contained Hong Kong and Chinese notes that saw some equally exciting realizations. Lot 51002, a Pick 136c, 1895 1 Dollar note from the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, brought $14,400, double the mid-range estimate. A few lots later two Ming Dynasty 1 Kuan Notes in AU condition brought $11,400 for lot 51027 (AU 55), and $9,600 for lot 51028 (AU 53). The China Empire notes continued to show strong results as lot 51029, a Ch’ing Dynasty 100,000 Cash in a PCGS 40 PPQ holder, realized $27,600. Lot 51087, a 5,000 Yuan from the People’s Bank of China, brought above high estimate as well, reaching $18,000.
The week of auctions culminated with the Hong Kong Coin Show hosted by Stack’s Bowers and Ponterio, Spink, Coin In Coin and Shouxi.com. The bustling bourse floor was packed from the opening on Friday morning virtually until the close of the show on Sunday. The response to this show has been resoundingly positive and exhibits continuing passion in the Chinese coin market. Stack’s Bowers and Ponterio will bring another auction and coin show to Hong Kong in April 2018.
Currently Stack’s Bowers is accepting consignments of Chinese and other Asian coins and currency for the April 2018 Hong Kong Showcase Auction. Additionally, Stack’s Bowers is accepting consignments of world and ancient coins and world paper money for the October 2017 Collectors Choice Online Auction and the January 2018 New York International Auction. Consignment specialists can be reached at 949-253-0916 or via email at info@StacksBowers.com.
About Stack’s Bowers Galleries
Stack’s Bowers Galleries conducts live, Internet and specialized auctions of rare U.S. and world coins and currency and ancient coins, as well as direct sales through retail and wholesale channels. The company’s 80-year legacy includes the cataloging and sale of many of the most valuable United States coin and currency collections to ever cross an auction block — The D. Brent Pogue Collection, The John J. Ford, Jr. Collection, The Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection, The Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection, The Norweb Collection, The Cardinal Collection and The Battle Born Collection — to name just a few. World coin and currency collections include The Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection of World Gold Coins, The Kroisos Collection, The Alicia and Sidney Belzberg Collection, The Wa She Wong Collection, The Guia Collection, The Thos. H. Law Collection, and The Robert O. Ebert Collection.
Topping off this amazing numismatic history is the inclusion of the world record for the highest price ever realized at auction for a rare coin, the 1794 Flowing Hair Silver Dollar graded Specimen-66 (PCGS) that realized over $10 million, part of their sale of the famed Cardinal Collection. The company is headquartered in Santa Ana, California, with offices in New York, Wolfeboro, Hong Kong, and Paris. Stack’s Bowers Galleries is an Official Auctioneer for several important numismatic conventions, including American Numismatic Association events, the New York International Numismatic Convention, the Whitman Coin & Collectibles Spring, Summer and Winter Expos, and its April and August Hong Kong Auctions.
