China (1916) dollar Y-332

In April 2021, Stack's/Bowers sold a PCGS MS68 example of the China (1916) Dollar as Lot 52321 of their offering of coins from the Pinnacle Collection. This sole, finest-known example realized $504,000 against a pre-sale estimate of $100,000-$150,000. The catalog description follows:

The Finest Certified "Flying Dragon" Dollar CHINA. Dollar, ND (1916). PCGS MS-68 Gold Shield. L&M-942; K-663; KM-Y-332; WS-0099. Struck for the inauguration of Hung Hsien (Yuan Shih-kai) as emperor, this popular type features Yuan in full military attire along with a tall plumed shako on the obverse, while the reverse displays an elegant--and rather popular--imperial flying dragon. Seemingly flawless and entirely impeccable, this majestic specimen is clearly destined for the ultimate in advanced Chinese cabinets and offers wholly unrivaled quality, as it is the sole finest example certified across both major services. Clearly superior to small handful of issues at the MS-67 level, such as a PCGS MS-67 that realized a total of $114,000 in our October 2020 Hong Kong auction (lot 41378). An EXCESSIVELY RARE offering that will most assuredly generate tremendous enthusiasm and interest, and one for which the sky truly is the limit.