It is finally here – our 10th Anniversary Hong
Kong Auction! Before I share some of the wonderful numismatic items that have
been entrusted to us for this auction, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on
the past and, perhaps more importantly, offer a heartfelt “thank you” to those who
have participated in our auctions over the past decade.
While the Stack, Bowers and Ponterio names have been spoken
about alongside great coins in the Americas for many decades, it’s no
exaggeration to say that this was not the case in Asia just 10 years ago.
Seizing on an opportunity, we held our first Hong Kong auction in December
2010, buoyed by the now legendary Wa She Wong Collection. It was our hope that
the same professional, down-to-earth and transparent approach that had earned
us the trust of so many would translate into this new market for us. Obviously,
it worked! Since that first sale, we’ve had the honor of selling some of the
most incredible Asian rarities. Perhaps it is a cliché, but we couldn’t have
done it without you. And, with your continued patronage, we hope to celebrate
this prideful occasion again ten years from now!
As you browse the
auction lots, I’m sure that you’ll agree that we’ve assembled an auction that
is fitting for a celebration; not only are the rarities being offered truly
staggering, but the sheer number of items may be nearly as impressive. In
fact, a quick check confirms that this is our largest Hong Kong auction to
date, with over 3,800 lots between our coin and currency catalogs. While
individual highlights are truly too numerous to detail, a few favorites include
three extremely rare modern Dragon & Phoenix concept designs, each dated
the year prior to commercial production; a newly discovered brass pattern
dollar struck for Anhwei, and an immaculate, satin-finished pattern dollar from
the Rome Mint depicting their proposed Sun Yat-sen / Junk Boat design. Among
items that hail from outside mainland China, it’s hard to overlook a stunning
proof Hong Kong half dollar from 1866. From Thailand, an imposing gold and platinum
bimetallic medal, struck in celebration of Rama IX’s 50th year on
the throne is sure to attract attention. Numerous named collections add
considerably to the dynamic nature of this sale, including the Mas Fera
Collection, the Trident Collection, the MBMY Collection, the Ta-Han/MCC Collection and the Charles
Tanant Collection.
Finally, I would be
remiss if I didn’t address the COVID-19 virus with respect to the collecting
community at large. In many ways, it would be impossible for this global
fight to not cast almost everything in a new light. In an instant, it has
trivialized many things previously considered to be of importance to modern
life. However, it has also turned a spotlight back to things that we may have
grown accustomed to taking for granted—the health and well-being of ourselves,
our families and our friends perhaps being at the top of this list. While
collecting might seem initially lost among these new realities, a deeper look
certainly yields greater than anticipated importance. For many, numismatics
provides a sense of community, while for others, it helps to provide goals that
lead to a sense of accomplishment. Still others find the connection to history
a valuable tool for personal growth and reflection. Whatever the reason, it’s
clear to me that collecting does have its place and, perhaps, that place is
more important now than ever.
Stay safe and happy collecting!
Download
a free copy of the catalog to your computer or mobile device.
