In conjunction with the annual Macau Numismatic Society show, Champion Hong Kong Auction will be offering a Legendary Kann Sweeny 1900 Peking Silver Restrike Set in 2014 Champion Macau Auction at the Ponte 16 Sofitel Macau Hotel on Nov. 30.
This set is certified by NGC in the following grades: One Dollar, NGC MS61;50 Cents, NGC MS61; 20 Cents, NGC MS63; 10 Cents, NGCMS61; 5 Cents, NGC MS61. Estimate $250,000-500,000 USD.
The 1900 Peking Dragon Silver Dollar series is famous among collectors of Chinese coins. Eduard Kann published information about the Peking Dollar for the first time in his 1954 catalog. In 1995, The Journal of East Asian Numismatics published James Sweeny’s article on the Peking 1900 coins based on his extensive research of over 20 years. Sweeny estimate of 10-15 sets of the 1900 Peking restrikes appears high; we suspect the correct number is closer to 10 overall sets. In the 2011 book, Top Chinese Coins– Silver, the 1900 Peking series was elected as the number one series of Chinese struck coins.
In Kann’s account of how the dies were bought and sold, it seems that the final sale of the Peking Dragon Dollar dies was to the Shanghai collector, Chen Ren-tao, who moved to Hong Kong in 1947. Four dies for these coins (the 10 Cents die is missing, currently on display at Liaoning Provincial Museum in Shenyang) and Chen’s other collected items were purchased in the early 1950’s from Chen Ren-tao for HKD 900,000 by a directive of the Chinese Premier Chou En Lai to the Chinese Culture Ministry Zheng Zhenduo. The dies are currently on display at the China National Museum (former as National Museum of Chinese History) in Beijing.
This 1900 Peking set was sent with the other Kann specimen of the 1900 Peking dollar to the chief curator of the British Royal Mint, G. Dryer, for metallurgic testing and study in 1981. The coins owned by Kann and sold in the 1971 auction may be the earliest restrikes from the original dies as they are sharper in detail than any other examples we have seen. Sweeny purchased this set and consigned it to Champion’s “Sweeny 1900” collection auction in 1995. The Sweeny 1900 Peking set sold for USD 46,000 to its current owner, who has now consigned this set back to Champion after almost 20 years. This is a great opportunity to own this historic set of Chinese numismatic history.
James Sweeny was also the author of the History of the Birmingham Mint. The Birmingham Mint (Heaton) produced some of the rarest series in Chinese Numismatics such as Hunan, Shensi, Chehkiang, and Kiangnan provinces patterns. Mr. Sweeny, as compensation for writing the book for the mint, was allowed to select duplicates from the mint’s archive collection. Since Mr. Sweeny only collects coins from 1900 he did not select any coins from the Chinese series because they were not of this date. He selected the 1900 pattern proof set of Sarawak (two sets known) and Straits Settlements (three sets known) from the Heaton archive.
Other coins from Champion's Sweeny 1900 collection auction included a 1900 Kiangnan province dollar early strike in superb condition which sold for a record price of USD 8,000. This coin was later graded by PCGS as MS-66+ and auctioned in 2012 in China for a world record price for a Chinese circulating dollar coin for RMB 3,600,000 (USD 550,000). One of the finest known 1900 Kiangnan province 50 cents was also in the collection and set a record price for this series. Both the extremely rare Heaton 1900 Sarawak and the Straits Settlements Proof sets were also part of the sale and also established record prices of USD 5,000 and USD 16,000 respectfully.
Highlights of 2014 Champion Macau Auction:
- Lot 225 CHINA-FENGTIEN ND(1897) "Teng-Tien" 10 Cents Brass Pattern, dies from Otto Beh Mint and coins from Louis Schuler, L&M470, KM-Pn2a, NGC AU Details
- Lot 285 CHINA-ANHWEI 1898 One Dollar Silver, flat Chinese character "4" in date and small rosette, L&M204, Y45.2, K53a, NGC MS66.
- Lot 310 CHINA-KIANGNAN ND(1897) One Dollar Silver, ornamental edge, A-Cross-Strokes very visible, attractive tone, L&M210A, Y145.1, NGC MS62.
- Lot 318 CHINA-KWANGTUNG Undated (1889) Half Dollar Silver, Kann 17, PCGS Specimen-64.
- Lot 319 CHINA-KWANGTUNG ND(1890-1908) One Dollar Silver, L&M133, Y203, NGC MS65.
- Lot 332CHINA-PEKING 1900 Siver Restrike Set (5), all Ex Kann Sweeny Collection, with Kann’s coin envelope:
- One Dollar, L&M6A, K233, NGC MS61;
- 50 Cents, L&M7A, K234, NGC MS61;
- 20 Cents, L&M8A, K235, NGC MS63;
- 10 Cents, L&M9A, K236, NGC MS61;
- 5 Cents, L&M10A, K237, NGC MS61.
- Lot 333 CHINA-SHENSI ND(1898) 5 Cents Silver Pattern, Heaton Mint, L&M377, K159, NGC SP63.
- Lot 350 CHINA-TAIWAN ND(1838-50) Old Man Dollar Silver, with Chopmark "+", L&M316, NGC AU Details. J.C.Lee Collection
- Lot 351 CHINA-TAIWAN ND(1838-50) Old Man Dollar Silver, with Chopmark "+", L&M316, NGC XF Details. J.C.Lee Collection
- Lot 352 CHINA-TAIWAN ND(1853) Ju-I Military Ration Dollar Silver, L&M323, NGC XF Details. J.C.Lee Collection
- Lot 353 CHINA-TAIWAN ND(1853) Bi Pao Military Ration Dollar Silver, with Chopmark "Ku", L&M325, NGC XF Details. J.C.Lee Collection.
- Lot 354 CHINA-TAIWAN ND(1836) Military Ration Dollar Silver, 5 dots, L&M313, NGC F Details. J.C.Lee Collection
The buyer's premium for bids made through liveauctioneers.com is 18%. The buyer's premium for Floor,Mail and Phone is at 15%. If there is any question please feel free to contact Champion Auction at 021-62993235, Email:championghka@gmail.com. You can also visit their website www.cghka.com for more information regarding 2014 Champion Macau Auction.
