China (1916) 20 cents Y-327

Stack's Bowers April 2021 Hong Kong sale, lot 52327

This specimen was lot 52327 in Stack's Bowers Hong Kong auction (Hong Kong, April 2021), where it sold for $1,200. The catalog description^[1] noted, "CHINA. 20 Cents, Year 5 (1916). PCGS AU-58 Gold Shield. A delightful minor from this popular series, the present specimen features a resounding underlying brilliance and just a hint of light handling." The Manchu dynasty was overthrown in 1911 and a republic established. No accepted process for transfer of power existed and various warlords and cliques jockeyed for power. Finally, general Yuan Shih-kai came out on top. Several commemoratives were issued to celebrate this event, most notably Y-322, but this design with the sideways bust of the general was selected for mass production at all the imperial mints. Yuan Shih-kai managed to get himself crowned emperor before he died in 1916. Immense quantities of dollars were struck, perhaps hundreds of millions, and the coin finally drove out all the foreign coins which had circulated in China for centuries. Ten cent, this twenty cent and fifty cent coins accompanied the dollar but were struck in smaller quantities. The twenty cent was struck again in year 5 (1916, shown here) and 9 (1920).

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: 5.4 g, 0.700 fine silver.

Catalog reference: L&M-74; K-661; KM-Y327; WS-0178-1.

Source:

Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
Lin Gwo Ming, Illustrated Catalogue of Chinese Gold & Silver Coins: Ching and Republican Issues, Seventh Edition, Hong Kong: Ma Tak Wo Numismatic Co., Ltd., 2012.
^[1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, The April 2021 Hong Kong Auction, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2021.

Link to:

China (1916) 20 cents Y-327

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