Shensi (1898) 20 cents KM-Pn3
Shensi (Shaanxi) Province lies in central China. An imperial mint was located in the city of Xi’an.
The specimen shown was lot 60501 in Ponterio sale 162 (Hong Kong, August 2011), where it sold for $83,650. The catalog description[1] noted,
"CHINA. Shensi. Pattern 1 Mace 4.4 Candareens (20 Cents), ND (ca. 1898). 陜西省造光緒元寶一錢四分四釐銀幣樣。Pattern Shensi Specimen 20 Cent. Prior to receiving the imperial sanction to establish a mint, authorities from Shensi province contracted the Heaton Mint at Birmingham to produce patterns for its intended coinage. The original order was received by the Heaton mint in 1898, and shipped to China in March of 1899 upon completion. Although samples of the new Heaton Mint patterns were presented to the provisional government, Shensi failed to gain court approval to establish a mint. This was most likely due to cut backs, the poor nature of the province, and the fact that the Hupeh Mint could fulfill most of the coinage needs of Shensi province. Although the Heaton Mint shipped machinery and dies to Shensi, these were undoubtedly reallocated to another mint (presumably Hupeh).
Ultimately Shensi province never received imperial sanction to establish a mint, and hence the coins only exist today as patterns in specimen form. Although the exact number of sets minted is unknown, the estimated total number produced is only around ten sets.
Although the Norman Jacobs specimen purported itself to be the Wayte Raymond specimen, it was not. This, the correct Raymond specimen was purchased by the Chin family form the original NASCA auction in 1977 and has remained in their possession since the date [o]f that sale. This can be confirmed when one compares this coin to the plate in the original NASCA auction catalogue as the toning pattern is the same. Tied for finest certified by NGC.
在清政府頒布諭令不准增設新局前，陜西省當局已向位於伯明翰的喜敦廠洽購設備及模具。喜敦廠是在1898年接獲訂單，機具在1899年3月完成後運往中國。雖然喜敦廠的樣幣呈給省府，但陜西設廠造幣一案沒有得到批准。可能的原因是該省較為貧瘠，由湖北省供應已可滿足所需要的錢幣。喜敦廠的機器及模具雖已交運，毫無疑問被轉到其他省份(推測是湖北)。陜西省始終未能獲得許可設造幣廠，因此至今留存的只有極少數的樣幣。確切的數量無從得知，估計約在十套左右。 雖然諾曼雅各斯那枚聲稱是來自Wayte Raymond拍賣，其實不然。Ray NGC SP-67. Ex: Wayte Raymond, NASCA December 1977 Auction, lot# 944. Ex: Chin Family Collection."
Recorded mintage: thought to be 10.
Specification: not listed.
Catalog reference: L&M-375; K-157; KM-Pn3; Hsu-356; Sweeny-CN35p.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- Kann, Eduard. Illustrated Catalog of Chinese Coins, Vol. 1 of 3. Bronx, NY: Ishi Press International, 2006.
- Lin Gwo Ming, Illustrated Catalogue of Chinese Gold & Silver Coins: Ching and Republican Issues, Seventh Edition, Hong Kong: Ma Tak Wo Numismatic Co., Ltd., 2012.
- [1]Ponterio, Richard, Ponterio sale 162: The August 2011 Hong Kong Auction, Irvine, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2011.
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