(1886) 495 P Warn KM-Pn17 Tin SP(PCGS#958354)

April 2023 Hong Kong World Coins Auction

拍卖行

Stack's Bowers

批号

44003

等级

SP64

价格

508,487

详细说明

Exceptional Pattern Warn with a Stunning Pedigree Ex: Colonel Green and H.D. Gibbs Collections KOREA. Tin Warn Pattern, Year 495 (1886). Kojong (as King). PCGS SPECIMEN-64. KM-Pn17; K&C-24.1 (for basic type); Bank of Korea-371; Jacobs/Vermeule-AA 101; Da Guang Se-13-6. Tai Guk Design, Test Coin for the first modern machine struck coinage series of Korea. A RARITYof tremendous magnitude, this crown-sized issue, with a focal design of dragons arranged in circular fashion, represents the earliest attempts at modernizing the Korean monetary system. At the time of its inception, predominantly square holed copper coins or "yopchon" were used in circulation. Although "yopchon" was a perfectly acceptable form of payment for local transactions, it was not widely accepted by foreigners. As part of their modernization attempt, the government contracted a German by the name of Mollendorf to act as superintendent of the Chonwankuk Government Mint. Mollendorf in turn contracted engineers from the Osaka Mint in Japan. The 1886 pattern series came as a result of this attempt. Patterns were originally produced and presented in the following denominations: Gold 20 Warn, 10 Warn, 5 Warn, 2 Warn and 1 Warn; Silver 1 Warn, 5 Niang, 2 Niang, 1 Niang and 1/2 Niang; Copper 20 Mun, 10 Mun, 5 Mun, 2 Mun and 1 Mun. Although patterns for every denomination were produced, only the 1 Warn, 5 Mun and 10 Mun were eventually struck for circulation. This pattern, produced of mostly tin (x-ray fluorescence spectroscopy tested this coin at around 90% tin with copper and other trace elements appearing) is denominated as "1 Warn". Preserved exceptionally well for the issue, it displays a perfect strike with strong reflective flash in the fields and minimal metal degradation. It is tied for the finest certified, and considering its glorious pedigree, it has claims to be the most desirable example available for private ownership. A truly landmark offering! While coins are often sold with pedigrees tracing them back to collectors of yesteryear, seldom are articles of correspondence related to their placement saved for later generations to see. In this lot, you have exactly that. While several letters are included, one typed transcription of communication made after the sale when other Korean rarities were being considered is transcribed below: "April 29, 1964 Mr. Masato M. Sera 909 W. Addison Street Chicago, Illinois 60613 Dear Mr. Sera: I received your nice letter of April 6th relative to the Korean Crown and I am happy that you are pleased. It is a very attractive piece in my opinion and a rare item. I would recommend that you write to Mr. Hans Schulman, 545 Fifth Avenue, New York 17, New York, and place your request for the 1888 Warn with him. At the time that I purchased the 1886 piece from Mr. Howard Gibbs, he had two other rare Crowns of Korea, of which one was the 1888 and it is unfortunate that I did not know of your interest at that time because they could have been obtained at a very reasonable price. He placed these with Mr. Hans Schulman and I believe they were in the Kriesberg Schulman Auction of March 18, 1964. There is a slight possibility that they did not sell, or that Mr. Schulman has them. Let me hear from you as to what Mr. Schulman tells you. The reason I ask this is because Mr. Howard Gibbs is on a trip around the world at this time and will not return until July. At that time I can inquire of him whether he has either one of the 1888 Warn, however, if they did not sell at the sale, Mr. Schulman will have them at this time. Best Regards, R. J. Hudson, M.D." Estimate: $25,000 - $50,000. Provenance: From the Mas Fera Collection. Ex: Robert J. Hudson Collection. Ex: H. D. Gibbs Collection. Ex: Colonel Green Collection. 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. 名家大珍舊藏一圜樣幣 Colonel Green和H.D. Gibbs舊藏 1886年韓國錫製一圜樣幣。 太極。韓國首個機製錢幣序列的試樣。大珍中的稀有品，克朗大小，雙龍盤旋，韓國貨幣系統中的早期現代化試驗。於其創立時，流通的貨幣主要是方孔銅錢或葉錢。雖對於當地交易而言，葉錢著實是完美的支付方式，但其卻不被外商接受。作為現代化的一部分，當時的政府聘請了一位名叫Mollendorf的德國人擔任典圜局政府造幣廠的主要負責人，Mollendorf隨後聯絡日本大阪造幣廠的工程師協助鑄幣事宜，1886年樣幣系列則是此次初試的成果。此版樣幣起初生產及呈樣的面值包括：20圜、10圜、5圜、2圜和1圜的金幣，1圜、5兩、2兩、1兩和1/2兩的銀幣，以及20文、10文、5文、2文和1文的銅幣。雖然每一面值的樣幣均有鑄造，但最終獲生產流通的僅有1圜、5文和10文。此枚面值為"一圜"，主要成分為錫（XRF光谱儀探測下其錫含量約為90%，亦見銅及其他金屬元素）。於此發行而言保存狀態超群，壓鑄無可挑剔，底板反光強烈，可見微乎其微的金屬降解痕跡。PCGS冠軍分，出自名家珍藏，讓人留戀忘返、心之所向的大珍。 雖某些錢幣出售時通常帶有譜系，以追溯到昔日的藏家，但鮮少附有與其相關的文件供後代查閱。該拍品正正包括如此的幾份信件，下文為其他韓國錢幣珍品成交之後的交談對話摘錄： "1964年4月29日 Masato M. Sera先生 909 W. Addison Street Chicago, Illinois 60613 親愛的Sera先生， 收悉 閣下於4月6日關於韓國克朗的來信，閣下之大悅實乃本人的慰藉。該枚賞心悅目，實屬珍品。 本人愚見，閣下可書信予Hans Schulman先生，地址為Fifth Avenue, New York 17, New York，與其洽談 閣下對1888年一圜之購買意欲。本人從Howard Gibbs先生處購得1886一圜時，幸知其亦藏有另兩枚珍罕韓國克朗，當中一枚則為1888年，惜當時未知 閣下對該幣之大好，時價甚合理也。本人相信這些錢幣曾於1964年3月18日的Kriesberg Schulman拍賣會中露面，許是未獲成交，亦有可能是Schulman先生投得。如 閣下獲Schulman回信，亦煩請告知後續如何。此因Howard Gibbs先生現正環游世界，直至7月。到時本人即可詢問其是否仍藏有1888年之一圜，若他們未在拍賣會中售出，Schulman應尚珍藏此珍品。 此致 R. J. Hudson, M.D."