Republic Chang Tso-lin silver Pattern "Mukden Tiger" Dollar Year 17 (1928) MS62 NGC, Tientsin mint, KM-Pn90, L&M-871, Kann-688, Chang-CH247 (Rare), Shanghai Museum-694, Shi Jiagan Collection-585, WS-0111, Wenchao-901 (rarity 3 stars). A coin which is perhaps as famous as the man whose portrait it bears. One of the most powerful warlords in 1920's China, Chang Tso-lin (Zhang Zuolin) was, as Kann aptly observes, "a selfmade man, who understood [how] to amass great power and still greater fortunes." Only portrayed on a small series of Patterns from the silver Dollar up to a gold 50 Dollar piece produced during his short-lived hold over Beijing and Tientsin from 1926 to 1928, Chang's coins remain some of the rarest and most highly sought after of all Republican issues, numerous examples of which have been known to have set all-time price records when they came to auction. Proposed not long after Chang's death by railcar bomb on June 4th, 1928, this last Pattern to celebrate the "Grand Marshal" (also nicknamed the "Mukden Tiger") has only come to auction an exceedingly small handful of times over the last several decades, with the type even missing from such famous collections as Norman Jacobs, R.N.J Wright, and Wa She Wong. To date, between NGC and PCGS combined, a mere 10 examples have been certified. Rendered to medallic specifications that leave each design element from the stars to the boldly cut calligraphy in striking relief, we would note that although NGC has chosen to give this coin a standard Mint State designation, it seems that PCGS's standard of certifying the series as Specimen would be even more fitting. Indeed, even at a slight tilt, the fields roll with a clean glassy flash, admitting hardly the least trace of tone and an entirely fresh appearance. The first occasion we have ever had to present such a giant of Chinese numismatics, and a piece which is poised to turn heads from all serious collectors looking to fill this longtime whole in their collections.

HID09801242017

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