Triton XIV, Lot: 1281. Estimate $500. Sold for $11000. 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 24 of the Guāngxù Emperor (1898). “(star) zào jú qì jī yáng běi (star) nián sì shí èr xù guāng (star) qīng dà,” (Made at the Běiyáng machinery mint in year 4 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.FOURTH.YEAR.OF.KWANG HSÜ./(star) PEI.YANG.ARSENAL. (star), flying imperial dragon facing, coiled leftward around fireball and surrounded by stylized clouds. L&M 449; Kann 191; KM (Yeoman) 65.2. In NGC slab graded AU 58, toned with underlying luster.

From the Patrick H.C. Tan Collection.