China (1938) 20 cents
This specimen was lot 74292 in Stack's Bowers Collectors Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, September 2024), where it sold for $125. The catalog description[1] noted, "CHINA. 20 Cents, Year 27 (1938). PCGS MS-66. A supremely fresh example with attractive pewter-gray surfaces." 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. This type was struck 1936-39, after which the outbreak of World War Two blocked further imports of nickel. Patterns exist in copper, aluminum, aluminum bronze and pewter.
Recorded mintage: 61,248,000.
Specification: 6.05 g, nickel, 24.06 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: KM-Y350.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, September 2024 World Collectors Choice Online Auction, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2024.
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