Stack’s Bowers and Ponterio, HK-Hong Kong

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Stack’s Bowers and Ponterio Hong Kong Auction Shows Realizing Nearly $7 Million

Stack’s Bowers and Ponterio have announced the results of their Spring 2019 auction presented in conjunction with the 6th Hong Kong Coin Show held at the Mira Hotel. The vibrant market, aided by an impressive and dynamic offering of desirable rarities, helped the sale exceed expectations, with total prices realized of $6,969,395 (all prices reported include the standard buyer’s premium).

Lot 50176: People’s Republic of China. People’s Bank of China. 2 Yuan, 1975. P-UNL. Proof. PMG Uncirculated 62. Estimated: $100,000. Realized: $240,000.

The highest priced item in the sale was found in Session A – Chinese, Hong Kong and World Paper Money. Graded PMG 62 Uncirculated, lot 50176, an unissued 2 Yuan Proof from the People’s Republic of China, was the top lot in the auction, realizing $240,000 (USD), far above its pre-auction estimate of $75,000 to $100,000. Another PRC note, lot 50163, a 5000 Yuan, fetched $51,600. In lot 50456, an ultra-rare 1901 Straits Settlements note realized $40,800, a highlight of the Commonwealth portion of the sale. A Hong Kong Mercantile Bank of India 50 Dollar note in lot 50304 sold for $26,400. In total, 15 lots in the paper money session realized over $10,000, reflecting an expanding collector base for condition sensitive and hard to find banknotes. Nine of the top 10 prices realized in the auction were for lots certified by PMG, a leading paper money certification service.

Lot 60039: China. Gold 10 Tael Ingot, ND (ca. 1750). Extremely fine. Estimated: $40,000. Realized: $150,000.

A vast array of Vintage Chinese coins were featured in Session B, where lot 60039, a 10 Tael gold ingot from the “Nanking Cargo” shipwreck recovery, brought the session’s top price of $150,000. Other impressive realizations included a Pei Yang Silver Tael ND (1907), lot 60107, that sold for $84,000 and a Peking Silver 3 Mace 6 Candareens Pattern Restrike, lot 60452, that brought $78,000, more than doubling its high estimate. In total, 79 lots in the session brought prices exceeding $10,000 with 34 lots surpassing the $20,000 mark.

Lot 61075: China. 2000 Yuan, 1999. Panda Series. NGC PROOF-68 ULTRA CAMEO. Estimated: $70,000. Realized: $78,000.

Similar strength was apparent for true rarities among the Modern Chinese coins offered in Session C. A 1999-dated 2000 Yuan Gold Kilo from the Panda Series, lot 61075, earned the top price in the session with a $78,000 realization. Several other large format issues brought impressive sums, led by lot 61065, a 1992-dated 5 Ounce gold 500 Yuan from the Panda Series that realized $38,400.

Lot 62283: Korea. Copper Mun Pattern, Year 495 (1886). Yi Hyong. PCGS SP-65 BN Gold Shield. Estimated: $30,000. Realized: $52,800.

Session D concluded the live sessions of the sale and featured Hong Kong and Foreign coins. While many exceptional prices were achieved, lot 62283, a small copper pattern Mun from Korea, was perhaps the most stunning. Although it is the single finest certified by PCGS, nobody anticipated its final price of $52,800. Several Japanese rarities shone as well, the first being lot 62270, an extremely rare Year 8 (1875) Yen that was graded AU-55 by PCGS and brought $40,800. While not as rare in an absolute sense, a Trade Dollar from the same year, lot 62271, realized $26,400 due to its immaculate state of preservation. While modest in terms of overall value, the Mirs Bay Collection, a meticulously assembled collection of British Trade Dollars that included most of the overdate varieties, generated much buzz during and after the sale. Lot 62229, the rare 1935-B final date, realized the collection’s top price at $22,800.

Complete prices realized can be found in the Stack’s Bowers Auction Archives.