CNG 96, Lot: 1075. Estimate $200. Sold for $3500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

CHINA, Eastern Zhou dynasty - Warring States Period. State of Jìn. Early 4th century BC. Æ Pointed Shoulder Spade (114x55mm, 30.29 g). Pointed shoulder spade with long, hollow handle; Gong (Duke) in early zhuànshū Hànzì (seal script) in right field. BN Chinoises I –; Yü-Ch'üan –; Shanghai I –; Hartill 2.186 var. (character in right field); cf. Ma Feihai 馬飛海 (ed.), Zhongguo lidai huobi daxi 中國曆代貨幣大系, vol. I, Wang Qingzheng 汪慶正 (ed.), Xian Qin huobi 先秦貨幣, Shanghaï 1988, p. 110 (for later form of this character). Good VF, green patina with a light dusting of brown earthen deposits.

From the J.P. Righetti Collection.