Impressive Early Yuán from the Běiyáng Arsenal Mint

Triton XIV, Lot: 1277. Estimate $50000. Sold for $220000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

CHINA, Provincial. Zhílì (Chihli). AR Yuán – Dollar. Imperial Dragon type. Běiyáng Arsenal (Tientsin) mint. Dated RY 22 of the Guāngxù Emperor (1896). “(star) zào jú qì jī yáng běi (star) nián èr shí èr xù guāng (star) qīng dà,” (Made at the Běiyáng machinery mint in year 2 and 20 of Guāngxù of the great Qīng dynasty) in Hànzì surrounding similar legend without stops in Manchu script, “yī yuán,” (1 yuán) in Hànzì / TWENTY SECOND YEAR OF KUANG HSU/(star) PEI YANG ARSENAL (star, flying imperial dragon facing, coiled leftward around fireball and surrounded by stylized clouds. L&M 439; Kann 181; KM (Yeoman) 65. In NGC slab graded MS 63, attractively toned. Rare.

From the Patrick H.C. Tan Collection.