Yunnan (1943) tael KM-A3

Ponterio sale 162, lot 60730

photo courtesy Stack's-Bowers LLC

Yunnan Province lies in the south of China, bordering Burma (Myanmar), Laos, and Vietnam. To facilitate the trade of opium in Yunnan, the French, during WWII, minted silver bullion coinage from their mints in French Indo-China. As such, the coins have both Chinese and Lao script.

The specimen shown was lot 60730 in Ponterio sale 162 (Hong Kong, August 2011), where it sold for US$ 1,434. The catalog description^[1] noted, "CHINA. Yunnan. Tael, ND (1943). 鹿頭正銀一兩。"Small Head". Struck for French Indo China opium trade. “小鹿頭”。中南半島鴉片貿易用銀元。NGC AU-55.”

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: 38.20 g, silver.

Catalog reference: L&M-435; K-939; Hsu-304; KM-A3 (under French Indo-China).

Source:

• Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
• Kann, Eduard. Illustrated Catalog of Chinese Coins, Vol. 1 of 3. Bronx, NY: Ishi Press International, 2006.
• ^[1]Ponterio, Richard, Ponterio sale 162: The August 2011 Hong Kong Auction, Irvine, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2011.

Links to:

• 1932 (year 21) 50 cents Y-492
• (1943) 1/2 tael KM-A1.1
• (1943) 1/2 tael KM-A1.2
• (1943) 1 tael KM-A2a
• (1943) 1 tael KM-A4
• Coins and currency dated 1943
• see coins of French Indo-China
• return to China, Yunnan Province