Laos 1971 20000 kip
This specimen was lot 50145 in Stack's Bowers Hong Kong auction (Hong Kong, April 2021), where it sold for $1,920. The catalog description[1] noted, "LAOS. 20000 Kip, 1971. PCGS PROOF-68 Deep Cameo Gold Shield. Struck to celebrate the coronation of King Savang Vatthana. Superbly preserved, this example displays minimal handling with a few natural frosting flecks appearing in the king's portrait that likely prevented a finer grade. It's also interesting to note that this piece must have been struck towards the end of the production run, as several of the squares that appear in the ornamental ring that surrounds the king's bust have faded from the design due to repeated polishing of the dies. From the Pinnacle Collection." Laos was a large kingdom until the 1800's, when the surrounding countries took portions of its territory, and eventually the French incorporated it into French Indo-China. It was reformed as a kingdom after World War II, but revolutionary forces within the country and French and US regional interests kept it from true independence. A Communist revolution through the 1950's and 1960's ended with formation of the People's Democratic Republic in 1975. This type is listed but not pictured in the SCWC. It is accompanied by 1000 (silver), 2500 (silver), 4000 (gold), 5000 (silver), 8000 (gold), 10,000 (silver), 40,000 (gold) and 80,000 (gold) commemoratives, probably all issued in sets.
Recorded mintage: est. 10,000 proofs.
Specification: 20 g, 0.900 fine gold.
Catalog reference: Fr-3; KM-13.
- 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.
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