SANTA ANA, CA. (December 14, 2015) — Stack’s Bowers and Ponterio is pleased to announce the results of their December 2015 Chinese and Asian Coin, Currency and Medal auction. Overall, prices realized exceeded estimates, with many lots showing heated competition. (All prices realized include the standard buyer’s premium).
Setting the pace for the sale, the very first lot to cross the auction block, an example of Warring States Period, State of Qi, Five Character Knife Money sailed past all estimates. Combining rarity and exceptional preservation, the knife drew spirited bidding to close at $15,535. Several minutes later, lot 60017, a gem Mint State Ting Wei 1907 Pattern Dollar, soared to $47,800. Tied for finest graded, the piece exhibited spectacular aesthetic qualities. Closing within a few hundred dollars of its $90,000 high estimate, lot 60089, a sensational Fine Style Hung Hsien 1916 Gold Dollar with Dragon Reverse, was of particular interest to seasoned collectors. Graded SP-62 by PCGS, the piece was clearly a presentation striking of great numismatic significance.
Broad and deep offerings of Provincial coinage have become standard in the firm’s Hong Kong auctions, and the December sale was no exception. The first coin offered, lot 60100, was a highly desirable undated (1898-99) Chekiang 3 Mace 6 Candareens that blew past its $13,000 to $16,000 estimate before settling at $28,680. Other highlights included a Year 30 (1904) Small Characters Hupeh Tael in NGC MS-62 that closed near high estimate at $23,900, along with a Large Characters variety example in PCGS AU-55 that also approached high estimate, closing at $33,460.
From Kiangnan, lot 60136, an 1898 Mint State (PCGS MS-63) 7 Mace 2 Candareens, soared to more than $10,000 above high estimate, reaching $35,850 before the dust settled. Very conservatively graded, bidders reacted positively to the premium quality of the piece. Also from Kiangnan, an extremely rare 1901 Dollar with extra stroke in “Sheng” closed at $38,837.50. Nearly all white with pleasing luster, the piece clearly demonstrated the appeal of rare varieties within this widely collected series. Not to be outdone, a 7 Mace 2 Candareens from Kirin cyclically dated 1901 shot past high estimate to bring $20,315. This variety displayed the dot within Manchu legend along with retrograde “S”.
One of the highlights of the sale was lot 60164, a Kwangtung 7 Mace 3 Candareens. As most examples have been melted, the offered coin in NGC MS-62 ranked as one of the nicest preserved survivors, and realized a solid bid of $95,600, making it the most valuable coin to change hands in the entire Chinese section of the sale.
Among Modern Chinese coins, the auction results once again demonstrated an improving market, with an impressive 94.8% sell-through rate of the 135 lots offered. The clear stand out within the section was lot 60401, a five-piece 1992 Inventions & Discoveries proof set that fetched a very impressive $26,290 on an estimate of $15,000 to $20,000.
The second session of the sale presented coinage of Southeast Asia and provided a number of remarkable prices. From French Cochin China, an extremely rare 1879-A Piastre Essai realized a stunning $44,812.50 on a presale estimate of $20,000 to $30,000. Graded SP-63 by PCGS, the piece represented a masterpiece of French Colonial numismatic design. Other areas exhibiting strong collector demand included Hong Kong, as a pair of extremely rare 1868 proof coins in Dollar and Half Dollar denominations rocketed to $38,837.50 and $89,625.00 respectively.
Closing out the sale, a broad offering of paper money did not disappoint. The first lot, 70001, dated to 1287 and from the Yuan Dynasty in the denomination of Two Kuan, was issued contemporary to the rule of Kublai Khan. This extremely desirable note closed at $35,850. Far and away, the biggest surprise in the session was lot 70097, a likely unique 1863 CBIAC $10 Hong Kong Branch Note. Graded as Very Good-8 the piece demolished even the most exuberant expectations closing at $101,575 or better than five times high estimate!
The Stack’s Bowers and Ponterio December 2015 Hong Kong sale was a resounding success. For those considering consignment, the firm is currently accepting consignments for their April 2016 Hong Kong Sale as well as the 2016 ANA World’s Fair of Money auction. Contact a consignment representative by calling 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 John J. Ford, Jr. Collection, The D. Brent Pogue 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 Professional Numismatists Guild New York Invitational, the Whitman Coin & Collectibles Spring, Summer and Winter Expos, and its April, August and December Hong Kong Auctions.
