Manchukuo TT3 (1934) 5 li
This specimen was lot 54664 in Stack's Bowers Hong Kong auction (Hong Kong, April 2021), where it sold for $132. The catalog description[1] noted, "CHINA. Manchukuo. 5 Li, Datong 3 (1934). PCGS MS-64 Red Brown Gold Shield. A nicely struck, pleasing near Gem quality coin, with softly radiating luster and abundant mint red in the fields." Manchukuo was the puppet state set up by the Japanese in Northeast China to govern the provinces they conquered in 1931. They persuaded K'ang Te, the last emperor of the Manchu dynasty, to be its ruler. He was regent 1932-34 (Ta T'ung era) and emperor 1934-45 (K'ang Te era). He quickly discovered that his rule was merely nominal but he was not allowed to escape. In August 1945, the Russians invaded and occupied the region. After thoroughly looting the factories and banks, they turned it over to the Communist Chinese, who used it as a base to conquer the rest of China from the Nationalists. This type was struck years TT 2 and TT 3.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: bronze.
Catalog reference: KM-Y1.
- 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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