China (1909) 20 cash
The second specimen was lot 52191 in Stack's Bowers Hong Kong auction (Hong Kong, April 2021), where it sold for $2,040. The catalog description[1] noted, "CHINA. 20 Cash, CD (1909). NGC MS-65 Brown. Variety with six waves and dot between "KUO" and "COPPER". Much glowing luster under the toning and completely free of marks and hairlines. Noted for completeness is a tiny planchet flaw in 'KUO'." This type was struck in 1905-08. It is dated by the two characters at 3 and 9 o'clock on the reverse, corresponding to the Chinese sixty year cyclical calendar. It is an example of the standard unified general coinage, from the Tientsin mint, and was meant to offer a unified alternative to the proliferation of provincial mint coins. The Tientsin mint also struck two, five and ten cash, of which the ten cash was the most popular.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: copper.
Catalog reference: the first specimen: Y-21.5. the second specimen: CL-HB.63; KM-Y21; CCC-620.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- Kann, Eduard. Illustrated Catalog of Chinese Coins, Vol. 1 of 3. Bronx, NY: Ishi Press International, 2006.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, The April 2021 Hong Kong Auction, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2021.
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