Three Vintage Chinese Coins Realize Over $1 Million Each

Three highly valuable vintage Chinese coins each sold for over $1 million in a sale presented by Taisei Coins and The Royal Mint. Seven more Chinese coins realized prices over $250,000 in the sale, which was held April 29, 2022, in Japan.

The top lot, which set a record for any coin sold in a Taisei auction, was a China YR16(1927) Chang Tso Lin Silver Dollar graded NGC MS 62 (lot 269). It realized ¥276,000,000 (about $2.125 million), nearly a record for any Chinese coin. Only two Chinese coins had previously sold for higher, and both also show Chang Tso Lin, a warlord who briefly ruled China before being assassinated in 1928.

Another great Chinese rarity also drew enthusiastic bidding. Realizing ¥258,750,000 (about $1.99 million) was a China 1867 Shanghai Tael - With Rays, graded NGC PF 63+ (lot 218). It was struck by the Hong Kong mint and includes both Chinese and British features, including the United Kingdom royal coat of arms. Chinese government officials rejected the proposed design and nearly all were melted.

The third coin to sell for over $1 million in the sale was a China (1932) Plain Edge Pattern Silver Dollar graded NGC MS 60 (lot 278). It realized ¥184,000,000 (about $1.41 million), nearly 100 times its starting price. Also pedigreed to the Kann Collection, this pattern shows a ship on the reverse known as a junk, with lettering above it that links the coin to Gold Standard experimental coinage that was never issued.