Coins follow paper in Hong Kong sale

Spink China’s August Hong Kong collectors’ sale saw two days of bank notes lead the auction. This was followed by just one day of Chinese and Hong Kong coins.

The coin catalog was very much one for the specialist collector. Lots spanned the full gamut of Chinese history. At sale’s end, it was pleasing to see that top-priced lots came from a pair of distinct areas within Chinese numismatics.

Leading the charge was a People’s Republic 1996 12 oz gold Year of Rat 1000 yuan (Y-664). The coin has a mintage of just 99 and, in NGC Proof-66 Ultra Cameo, it made an easy $49,085. That’s $33,665 more than the current spot price of 12 ounces of gold.

Then came a Republic of China silver dollar struck to commemorate the 80th birthday of Xu Shichang (KM-676). He is featured in three-quarter profile on the obverse and, while the coin shows no date as such, the reverse carries a legend that translates as “Ninth Month of the Tenth Year of the Republic of China” (1921). In PCGS MS-65, it realized $39,114.

For complete sale results, visit www.spink.com.

More Collecting Resources

• The Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000 is your guide to images, prices and information on coinage of the 1900s.

• Order the Standard Catalog of World Paper Money, General Issues to learn about circulating paper money from 14th century China to the mid 20th century.