China (1932) yuan
This specimen was lot 20306 in Ponterio sale 161 (Chicago, August 2011), where it sold for $12,650. The catalog description[1] noted, "CHINA--REPUBLIC. Dollar, Year 21 (1932). Mint State Year 21 'Birds Over Junk' Dollar. NGC MS-64." According to legend, the three birds flying over the sailing junk on the reverse were deemed a bad luck symbol and the coins were hastily recalled, resulting in their rarity. The coins were indeed recalled, but not because of the birds; it was felt that placing a rising sun on a Chinese coin in the middle of a war with Japan was unpatriotic. The regular Sun Yat-sen issue of 1933-34 was circulated without incident and is very common today.
Recorded mintage: 2,260,000.
Specification: 26.7 g, .880 fine silver, .755 troy oz.
Catalog reference: L&M-108; K-622; Y-344; Hsu-95.
- 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]Ponterio, Rick, et al., Ponterio sale 161: The Chicago ANA Auction, Irvine, CA: Stack's-Bowers, LLC, 2011.
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