China (1936)-A 5 cents
This specimen was lot 1092 in Goldberg Sale 137 (Los Angeles, January 2024), where it sold for $2,520. The catalog description[1] noted, "China. 5 Cents, Year 25 (1936)-A. Vienna mint. Extremely rare proof issue. Pop 6; 7 in 67. NGC graded Proof 66. Ex Goldberg Sale 47, May 28, 2008, lot 2420 (part)." In the late 1920's, Chiang Kai-Shek's Nationalists managed to defeat the Communists and extort professions of loyalty from most of the major warlords. He was unable, however, to stave off Japanese aggression and a new round of fighting began in 1931. The Tientsin issue noted below was done at the behest of a local warlord. This type was struck again 1938-39, after which the outbreak of World War Two blocked further imports of nickel. Patterns exist in copper.
Recorded mintage: 72,844,000 (Shanghai issue) plus 20,000,000 with mintmark "A" (shown here).
Specification: 3.07 g, nickel, 18.5 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: KM Y348.1.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Goldberg, Ira, Stephen Harvey and Vera Kan, Goldberg Sale 137: the Pre-Long Beach Auction, featuring the Peh Family Collection, Los Angeles: Goldberg Coins and Collectibles, 2023.
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