China 1999 500 yuan KM-1282

Stack's Bowers April 2021 Hong Kong sale, lot 51453

This specimen was lot 51453 in Stack's Bowers Hong Kong auction (Hong Kong, April 2021), where it sold for $26,400. The catalog description^[1] noted, "Impressive "Return of Macao" Commemorative 5 Ounce Gold Issue. CHINA. 500 Yuan, 1999. NGC PROOF-69 Ultra Cameo. Struck to commemorate the return of Macao to China. A brilliant 5 Ounce Proof with hard mirrored fields and frosted cameo devices. Serial number on rim at 12 [o'clock]: # "081"." The communist regime followed up on its reabsorption of Hong Kong by foreclosing on Portugal's lease of Macao in 1999. Macao, smaller in population and with a less rowdy political culture, has posed less of a problem of control for the communist cadre.

Recorded mintage: 228.

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

Catalog reference: Fr-213; KM-1282.

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:

• 1997 500 yuan, Return of Hong Kong
• 1999 10 yuan, Guanyin, Goddess of Mercy
• 1999 5 yuan, panda, 1/20 oz gold
• 1999 10 yuan, panda, 1 oz silver
• 1999 25 yuan, panda, ¼ oz gold
• 1999 50 yuan, panda, ½ oz gold
• 1999 100 yuan, panda, 1 oz gold
• Coins and currency dated 1999