Triton XIV, Lot: 1279. Estimate $1000. Sold for $40000. 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 23 of the Guāngxù Emperor (1897). “(star) zào jú qì jī yáng běi (star) nián sān shí èr xù guāng (star) qīng dà,” (Made at the Běiyáng machinery mint in year 3 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 / TA.TSING.TWENTY THIRD YEAR OF KWANG HSÜ./(star) PEI YANG ARSENAL. (star), flying imperial dragon facing, coiled leftward around fireball and surrounded by stylized clouds. L&M 444; Kann 186; KM (Yeoman) 65.1. In NGC slab graded MS 62, lustrous.

From the Patrick H.C. Tan Collection.