Ponterio & Associates, a division of Bowers and Merena Auctions, is pleased to present the Wa She Wong Collection of Chinese and Asian coins B&M will also offer other fine properties in its December Hong Kong Auction held Dec. 3-4, 2010 at the Sheraton Hong Kong Hotel and Towers. The Wa She Wong collection represents one of the most important offerings of Chinese and Asian coins to ever be held.
The Wa She Wong Collection contains rarities that are an honor to view, let alone bid upon,” said Rick Ponterio, executive vice president of Bowers and Merena. “We are extremely proud to have been entrusted with its sale as it is one of the most memorable collections I have had the pleasure of preparing for auction. Bidders from around the world have begun to make reservations to attend the highly anticipated Hong Kong Auction in December for a chance to bid on the lots firsthand.”
The Wa She Wong collection is a masterfully gathered assortment of rare coins of China, including many rarities which are coveted by the most important collectors of Chinese numismatics as well as many scarce pattern coins, which are coins of proposed designs and strikes of that were never released into the general circulation.
An extremely unique coin in the collection is the Szechuan 30 Cash Struck in Copper, 1904, HSU-289, CCC-Unlisted. Considered one of the 100 greatest Chinese coins, there was believed to have been only three known in existence until the fourth was unearthed in the Wa She Wong Collection after being hidden away for 30 years.
“It is not frequent that a rarity, like the ‘Flying Dragon’ Szechuan 30 Cash Struck in Copper, is unearthed such as the case with the Wa She Wong Collection,” Sun Hao, Chinese coinage expert and author. “This specific example features a profile or ‘Flying Dragon’, while the others depict a frontal view or ‘Facing Dragon’. The opportunity to bid on this coin is a chance of a lifetime.”
The fine Wa She Wong collection features coinage that has rarely appeared on public markets and others that are missing from most major collections. Some other highlights of the auction include:
· Kwangtung Specimen set, 1890 (5 coins). K-21/25. ($1, 50¢, 20¢, 10¢, 5¢)
· Shensi Specimen Set, 1898 (4 coins). K-53,54,56,&57 (50¢, 20¢, 10¢, 5¢)
· Kiangnan. Pattern dollar, 1897. Plain edge Proof. K-66.
· Kwangtung Specimen set, 1890 (5 coins). K-16/20. ($1, 50¢, 20¢, 10¢, 5¢)
· Pattern dollar, 1911. L&M-29. (Ex: Kann Collection)
The auction is further bolstered by Asian coins and bank notes from other consignors and is highlighted by an 1868 Hong Kong Five Piece Silver Proof Set.
The 1868 Hong Kong Five Piece Silver Proof Set contains rarities from the Hong Kong mint which was only in production for about two years. Such a rarity, the proof set first became known to the numismatic community in 2007 when it appeared in a public auction. Prior to this, the set remained in the same family for over 100 years.
The 1868 Hong Kong Five Piece Silver Proof Set includes:
· Dollar 1868 KM-10
· Half Dollar 1868 KM-8
· 20 Cents 1968 KM-7
· 10 Cents 1868 KM-6.3
· 5 Cents 1868 KM-5
“The 10 Cents and 5 Cents were unpublished and reportedly unknown as proofs until the discovery of this set,” said Ponterio. “The fact that this set remains intact and unknown for well over a century baffles the mind. It is truly a remarkable rarity that is sure to be the centerpiece of any collection.”
The first day of the two-day December auction will feature the Wa She Wong Collection. The second day will host a collection of Hong Kong and Chinese coins and bank notes from other consignors. Featured highlights will be on view at the Baltimore Coin and Currency Convention Nov. 2-6 and prior to the December auction at the Sharaton Hong Kong Hotel and Towers Dec. 1-4.
The deluxe auction catalog is prepared in English and Chinese for your convenience, and available for $20 in the United State and $35 outside of the United States. Orders can be made by contacting a representative at +1-800-458-4646 or via email at [email protected]
