Kiangnan. Kuang-hsü Dollar CD 1898 MS61 PCGS, Nanking mint, KM-Y145a.1, L&M-217 var. (there, with raised eyeballs), Kann-71b, Chang-CH66 var. (there, with raised eyeballs), Shanghai Museum-451, WS-0799, Wenchao-647 (rarity 1 star). Dragon with incuse eyes (no eyeball) variety. A major rarity within the Kiangnan Dragon Dollar series, and by far the more challenging of the two "eyeball" varieties for the date, with survivors in Mint State preservation usually being a far cry by all metrics. Such is certainly attested by PCGS's population census, which reveals just four total specimens in this conditional tier, none of which appear to have crossed the auction block in recent years. For the sake of comparison, we previously offered an AU55-certified representative in our June Hong Kong sale, which brought an impressive $81,000, certainly pointing to the stunning interest a specimen such as this is poised to receive. Admittedly bound in its designation by some stray wisps over the open surfaces, these virtually pass unnoticed by the naked eye, doing nothing to hinder the coin's natural cartwheel effects and exquisite eye appeal. All-in-all a standout specimen, and one sure to come hotly contested.

HID09801242017

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