China 1994 500 yuan KM-684

Stack's Bowers April 2021 Hong Kong sale, lot 51413

This specimen was lot 51413 in Stack's Bowers Hong Kong auction (Hong Kong, April 2021), where it sold for $45,600. The catalog description^[1] noted,

"An Exceptional Unicorn Series 5 Ounce Gold Issue. One of Only 99 Originally Minted! CHINA. 500 Yuan, 1994. Unicorn Series. NGC PROOF-69 Ultra Cameo. A RARE 5 Ounce Gold Proof, attractive with hard mirrored fields and frosted cameo devices. Serial number on rim at 12 o'clock reads "032"."

This NCLT inaugurated another long-running series of commemoratives in addition to the panda and Chinese zodiac programs already in progress.

Recorded mintage: 99.

Specification: 155.5 g, 0.999 fine gold, 5 troy oz AGW.

Catalog reference: Fr-B104; KM-684.

Source:

• Friedberg, Arthur L. and Ira S. Friedberg, Gold Coins of the World, From Ancient Times to the Present, 9th ed., Clifton, NJ: Coin and Currency Institute, 2017.
• 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, The April 2021 Hong Kong Auction, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2021.

Link to:

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• 1994 10 yuan, panda, 1/10 oz gold
• 1994-P 10 yuan, panda, 1 oz silver
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• Coins and currency dated 1994