(1899)己亥 50C Y-144a LM-224, PL MS(PCGS#826847)

May 2022 Hong Kong World Coins Auction

拍卖行

Stack's Bowers

批号

51040

等级

MS62+PL

价格

8,150,374

详细说明

Among the Greatest Circulating Chinese Rarities The Finest Observed of the Issue CHINA. Kiangnan. 3 Mace 6 Candareens (50 Cents), CD (1899). Nanking Mint. Kuang-hsu (Guangxu). PCGS MS-62+ Prooflike. L&M-224; K-76; KM-Y-144a; WS-0809; Wenchao-657 (rarity: ★★★). Described by Kann as "...the scarcest of all Kiangnan coins and a rarity amongst all Chinese coins." In this simple summation, Kann deals with one of the most desirable issues in the entire 2,200 year history of Chinese coins. With just four examples certified by PCGS and NGC, this far and away exceeding all others, and using the word RAREis to trivialize the uncommonness of this example. The three other examples known to exist have all been circulated, with a PCGS AU-50 along with two NGC examples: AU-50 and AU Details examples. Blowing away those examples, this piece has been graded MS-62+ Prooflike by PCGS, though it also certainly could have garnered a Specimen designation. Extensive evidence of die working is observed, far exceeding the amount normally seen on comparable types from Kiangnan. The fields are slightly mirrored in a way that is distinctive from almost all business strikes, and the faint evidence of die rust seems to suggest these dies were reused for this strike at a later date. Some light friction is seen on the character side, but this friction is perfectly blended with the die polishing. Obviously never circulated, this example displays no contact markings on the surfaces, and the rims are fully formed in a way unlike other examples from this time. Details are crisp and refined, and this example appears to be struck multiple times, further supporting the specimen striking hypothesis. With an example such as this, RARITY and beauty combine an intoxicating swirl to make this coin irresistible to the advanced collector. All comparisons fail when held against the light of this example, leaving it in a class unto its own. With this piece likely to disappear into an advanced numismatic cabinet for a generation, this lot provides the singular chance to acquire a prominent and regal example. This coin generates excitement that is among the loftiest of lofty, and we expect spirited competition as many bidders compete to get an example that is without peer. With an unconfirmed reported mintage of 155 in Krause, it seems likely that the 3 Mace 6 Candareens issue for 1899 fell victim to financial problems of the Nanking Mint. Forced to suspend operations in 1900 and given the general unpopularity of the denomination, this likely severely limited mintage in 1899. After the Boxer Rebellion generated increased demand for silver coinage, the Nanking Mint reopened in 1901 under the direction of a foreign assayer, H.A. Holmes, whose initials would later appear on Kiangnan pieces. A contemporary trade report from 1901 accounts that silver issues from "an earlier discredited issue" were melted and struck into new coins, though it unclear if this refers to the pre-1900 coinage, though it would explain the somewhat low survival rates of Kiangnan silver pieces from this period. Estimate: $300,000 - $600,000. Provenance: From the Kairos Collection. Ex: W&B Capital Collection. To view all items from the Kairos Collection, click here. Click here for certification details from PCGS. Image with the PCGS TrueView logo is obtained from and is subject to a license agreement with Collectors Universe, Inc. and its divisions PCGS and PSA. 中國流通幣最稀有的珍品之一 己亥江南省造光緒元寶三錢六分銀幣。 珍稀度, ☆☆☆。耿愛德書中敘述：“江南幣中最稀少的一種，也是中國錢幣內最珍罕的品種之一”。簡而言之，耿愛德認為此幣堪稱中國2200年悠久發行史中其中一枚長青不朽的經典。PCGS 及 NGC 中僅四枚經評鑑，此枚的評分遠優於另外三杖，僅僅罕見一詞實不足以道出其稀缺性。 其餘三枚存世之作均曾經手，一枚 PCGS AU50、兩枚 NGC 分別為AU 50 及 AU 細節評分。此枚榮獲 PCGS MS-62+ 類精製幣 (Prooflike) 的高評，細細品味其鑄工，其實給予特殊精製 (Special Proof ) 亦不為過，狀態首屈一指，無同版別可望其項背。錢幣可見明顯的模具拋光痕，較類近的江南發行多。底板帶鏡面感，與普制版的打鑄截然不同。若隱若現的模具锈斑可能說明模具是在較後期被重用。反面有些輕微的磨擦，但與模具的拋光線完美融和。此枚明顯從未流通，幣面無任何接觸痕跡，幣緣刻劃入微，與同時代的其他發行大相逕庭。細節纖毫畢現，此模具似經過多次的打鑄，對於此為樣幣打鑄的假說似是有所根據。 風範極致、版式稀少，不愧為資深藏家夢寐以求的藏品。歷來被奉為收藏進階之關鍵品種，在包羅萬象的錢幣史中別樹一格。本次亮相拍賣後，可能將成為資深集藏世代傳承的珍品，是次機會可說是千載難逢。可遇不可求之作，翹楚高評，寥若晨星，我們深信拍場上將掀起激烈競投。 克勞斯書上列出此幣未經證實的發行量為 155，此款 1899 年發行的三錢六分似是南京鑄幣廠財困的犧牲品。由於該面額普遍不受歡迎，1900 年被迫暫停運營，令1899 年的發行量極其有限。義和團事件運動後，銀幣的需求增加，南京造幣廠於 1901 年在外國雕刻師 HA Holmes 的指導下重新開放，他姓名的首字母後來亦出現在江南的銀幣上。一份 1901 年的當代貿易報告稱“早期不獲批發行”的銀幣被熔化並鑄造成新幣，雖然不清楚這是否指的是 1900 年之前的鑄幣，但亦可以解釋為何這一時期江南銀幣的存世數寥寥無幾。