Kwangtung (1889) cash

Steve Album sale 54, lot 1377

This specimen was lot 1377 in Steve Album Auction 54 (Santa Rosa, CA, January 2026), where it sold for $450. The catalog description^[1] noted, "CHINA: Guang Xu, 1875-1908, AE cash, Guangzhou mint, Guangdong Province, machine struck 1890-99, a fantastic example, PCGS graded MS66." The SCWC states this was early coinage of the denomination before the Canton mint switched to KM Y190. Manchu inscription has four characters instead of two used on KM Y190, rather scarce thus. Ten cash made a cent.

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: 2.8 g, brass, 24 mm diameter.

Catalog reference: KM Y189, H-22.1334.

Source:

• Kann, Eduard. Illustrated Catalog of Chinese Coins, Vol. 1 of 3. Bronx, NY: Ishi Press International, 2006.
• Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
• ^[1]Album, Stephen, Joseph Lang, Paul Montz, Michael Barry and Hanbing Feng, Auction 54, featuring selections from the Kenneth A. Bovenkamp Collection of Ottoman Coins, Santa Rosa, CA: Stephen Album Rare Coins, Inc., 2025.

Link to:

• (1889) 5 cents
• (1889) 10 cents
• (1889) 20 cents
• (1889) 50 cents
• Kwangtung (1890-1908) cash
• Kwangtung (1890-1908) cash pattern
• Kwangtung (1890-1908) dollar
• Kwangtung ND (1890) 10 cents Y-195.1
• Coins and currency dated 1889