Costa Mesa, CA (May 20, 2022) – Stack’s Bowers and Ponterio’s May 2022 Auction, their most recent biannual Hong Kong event, netted a stunning final figure of over $43,000,000 in prices realized. This unprecedented total sets a record for the single highest grossing world and ancient numismatic auction held by any firm. With nearly 10,000 lots offered across 18 sessions and a sell through rate of 97%, the May 2022 Hong Kong Auction truly offered items that appealed to every interest and budget.
The sale started with offerings of paper money and modern Chinese coins in sessions A and B. Two early pre-modern era pieces of Chinese paper money, a 2 Kuan from the Yuan Dynasty graded by PCGS Banknote Choice Fine 15 and a 1 Kuan note from the Ming Dynasty certified by PMG About Uncirculated 55 realized $40,800 and $33,600 respectively. Several modern Chinese coins also reached astounding prices, proving general strength across almost the entire Chinese market. A 2000 Kilo Panda certified by NGC as Proof-69 Ultra Cameo closed at $114,000 far outstripping its intrinsic value. A 1985 Brass Yuan Panda Pattern with an estimated survival rate of fewer than 100 examples sold for $31,200, more than doubling its high estimate of $15,000.
The apex of the auction was Session C, Rarities Night. With 252 lots sold, this single event attracted spirited bidding that brought the final realized prices of the session to an astonishing $26,907,840. The highest priced item in the sale, a majestic Year 3 (1911) Pattern “Long Whisker” Dollar graded Specimen-63+ by PCGS, sold for $3,000,000. This type is one of the most popular issues in Chinese numismatics, and this coin now owns the record for the most valuable Dragon Dollar ever sold. Another ever popular type, a Year 38 (1949) Kweichow “Bamboo” Dollar certified by NGC as EF-40, soared to a final price of $480,000. One of the last issues of the Republic period, this type has long captivated collectors, and this example confirms the strong market for these types. A fantastic “Mausoleum” Dollar Pattern from Year 16 (1927) graded MS-63 by NGC reached $408,000, far surpassing its estimate range of $70,000-$100,000. Those who love Chinese coins will be immediately familiar with the Year 3 (1914) Yuan Shi-Kai Dollar, as one of the mainstays of the Republic series. An offering in the special proof striking format and graded Proof-65 by PCGS crossed the auction block for an impressive $720,000.
Featured in the Stack’s Bowers and Ponterio Rarities Night Session was the incredible Kairos Collection, which attracted the extremely strong bidding demanded by a cabinet of this lofty stature. A classic rarity, the 1899 Kiangnan 3 Mace 6 Candareens Graded PCGS MS-62+ Prooflike, exceeded its estimate to reach $1,200,000. A 1914 Silver Dollar Pattern Specimen-67 far surpassed its high estimate closing at $1,170,000, confirming the incredible popularity of Specimen strikes and becoming the third lot of the auction to cross the $1 million mark.
Other numismatic areas also delivered strong results, with much enthusiasm for almost all Asian markets. An Annam 5 Tien featuring Bats graded PCGS MS-63 realized $72,000, seven times the high estimate of $10,000. A lovely Hong Kong City Hall Dollar from the Mark and Lottie Salton Collection certified Proof-62 by PCGS sold for $43,200. The Salton Collection also offered a Man’en Era Oban graded MS-63 by PCGS which closed at $45,600, against an pre-sale estimate of $15,000-$25,000. A Year 4 Brass 20 Won Pattern from Korea, the first of this date known to Stack’s Bowers and Ponterio, astounded when it brought $156,000. These prices confirm Stack’s Bowers and Ponterio’s incredible ability to deliver premium numismatic items for collectors, generate intense excitement for their auctions and realize strong prices for consignors.
Consignments are currently being accepted for the August 2022 Global Showcase Auction, held in partnership with the American Numismatic Association, as well as the next Hong Kong and Collectors Choice Online auctions, both set to take place in October. To consign world coins and paper money to Stack’s Bowers Galleries call 800-458-4646, email consign@stacksbowers.com, or visit StacksBowers.com.
Other Notable Prices Realized From the May HK Auction Include:
CHINA. Dollar, ND (1916). Tientsin Mint. Hung-hsien (Hongxian [Yuan Shih-kai]). PCGS MS-67. $840,000
CHINA. Szechuan-Shensi Soviet. Dollar, 1934. Szechuan-Shensi Mint. PCGS MS-62. $384,000.
CHINA. 20 Dollars, Year 8 (1919). Tientsin Mint. PCGS MS-62. $288,000.
(t) CHINA. Silver Dollar Pattern, Year 18 (1929). Hangchow Mint. PCGS SPECIMEN-64. $288,000.
(t) CHINA. Sinkiang. Mace (Miscal), AH 1352 (1933/4). Kashgar Mint. NGC MS-63. $276,000.
(t) CHINA. Kweichow. Auto Dollar (7 Mace 2 Candareens), Year 17 (1928). PCGS AU-50. $264,000.
CHINA. Silver 50 Cents Pattern, Year 25 (1936). San Francisco Mint. PCGS SPECIMEN-64+. $228,000.
(t) CHINA. Manchukuo. Tael, ND (1932). PCGS MS-60. $216,000.
CHINA. Tuan Chih-kuei Silver Medal Silver Medal, ND (ca. 1917). Tientsin Mint. PCGS MS-64. $204,000.
CHINA. Silver Dollar Pattern, ND (1910). Tientsin Mint. Hsuan-t’ung (Xuantong [Puyi]). NGC MS-63. $180,000.
JAPAN. Yen, Year 8 (1875). Osaka Mint. Mutsuhito (Meiji). PCGS MS-63. $144,000.
(t) CHINA. Yunnan. Rupee, ND (1907). Kunming Mint. PCGS AU-53. $132,000.
(t) CHINA. Shanghai. Tael, Year 6 (1856). Hsien-feng (Xianfeng). NGC AU-55. $108,000.
CHINA. 20 Cents, ND (1912). Nanking Mint. PCGS MS-68. $108,000.
JAPAN. 20 Sen, Year 13 (1880). Osaka Mint. Mutsuhito (Meiji). NGC PROOF-62. $90,000.
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 nearly 90-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 Joel R. Anderson Collection, The Norweb Collection, The Cardinal Collection and The Battle Born Collection — to name just a few. World coin and currency collections include The Pinnacle Collection, The Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection of World Gold Coins, The Kroisos Collection, The Alicia and Sidney Belzberg Collection, The Wa She Wong Collection, and The Thos. H. Law Collection.
The company is headquartered in Costa Mesa, California, with offices in New York, Philadelphia, Wolfeboro, Hong Kong, and Paris. Stack’s Bowers Galleries hosts an annual Global Showcase in August featuring United States coins and currency, Ancient coins and World coins and currency in its Costa Mesa auction gallery. They are also the Official Auctioneer for several important numismatic events, including the New York International Numismatic Convention, the Whitman Coin & Collectibles Spring, Summer and Winter Expos, the Spring and Fall Hong Kong shows, and the Valkenburg Paper Money Shows.
