Stack’s Bowers and Ponterio announced details of their Q. David Bowers Collection of Chinese Copper Coins auction, held April 2 at The Mira Hong Kong.
The collection is packed with exceptional rarities and highly desirable numismatic collectibles and is the culmination of decades of academic study and discerning accumulation.
The auction kicks off at 9:30 AM Hong Kong time with 66 lots of Ancient Chinese coins. Highlights include extremely rare six-character (Lot 40022), five-character (Lot 40023) and four-character (Lot 40024) knives from the Warring States period. Also featured is a splendid offering of Hollow Handle Spades, Flat Handle Arch foot Spades and Square Hole Cash.
Following the Ancient coins section are 206 lots of exceptional Provincial issues. A sampling of highlights include the legendary An-Hui "Fang Kong" square hole 10 Cash (Lot 40067), an "An-Hui" Pattern 5 Cash spelled "EIVE" (Lot 40068) and an "An-Hui" Flying dragon 10 Cash (Lot 40069).
A highly unusual pattern 10 Cash struck in Copper-Nickel from Chekiang (Lot 40090) is among only a couple known.
Lot 40137 features an iconic Honan pattern 500 Cash, one of the largest coppers coins ever produced in China (both in denomination and size), but never issued.
Copper coins of China are not normally considered works of art, however the fabulous style of the Hunan 10 Cash (Lot 40144) could certainly hold its own.
Patterns, mules, double obverses and double reverses are plentiful in this collection, exemplified by the Kiangnan Mule 5 Cash struck in brass (Lot 40167) and Kiangsu Mule 10 Cash (Lot 40198).
Pieces that may not be as recognizable as others are the Kiangsu-Chingkiang Pattern 20 Cash (Lot 40201), the only example in private hands with only two known, and the Kwangsi Pattern 10 Cash (Lot 40210) with only a couple known.
Other short-lived issues that never made their way into full production include the Kwangtung "Five Goats" pattern Cent dated Year 25 (1936) (Lot 40216), the Shantung pattern 20 Cash dated Year 22 (1933) (Lot 40225) and the legendary and highly sought after Szechuan 30 Cash (Lot 40247).
Later offerings include Empire general issues (23 lots) with many rare and exceptional patterns such as the square hole style pattern Cash (Lot 40279) and a denomination run of 1910 and 1911 patterns (Lots 40284-40294).
Republic general issues (14 lots) present a number of condition census and other outstanding quality issues such as the 1921 20 Cash (Lot 40298), "L. Giorgi" pattern 10 Cash (Lot 40299) and the Yuan Shih-kai pattern 10 Cash (Lot 40301).
Soviet issues (1 lot), Fantasies (12 lots), Medals (12 lots) and mixed lots (19 lots) finish the session with number of interesting and fantastic quality specimens.
An additional Internet only session of 74 lots concludes the Q. David Bowers Collection of Chinese Copper Coins and will begin Thursday April 5, at 9:30 AM Hong Kong time (April 4, 6:30 PM PST).
Lot viewing will be available at the Stack’s Bowers and Ponterio Santa Ana office before the sale, as well as in Hong Kong immediately prior to the auction itself. Check www.Stacksbowers.com for specific dates and times.
