Republic Tsao Kun gold Pattern Dollar ND (1923) MS63 NGC, Tientsin mint, KM-Pn67, L&M-1126, Kann-1572, Shih-A11-7, Hsu-28, WS-0083A, Wenchao-62 (rarity 3 stars), Shanghai Museum-25, Shi Jiagan Collection-24. Civilian dress variety. Struck to commemorate Tsao Kun's inauguration as president and the passage of the Chinese constitution. An absolute giant of the Republican series as is well-known to seasoned collectors, to locate a gold striking of any Dollar of this era, let alone in choice certification, is truly a singular find. Struck in a clearly defined relief that hardly makes it difficult to understand why Wang Chun Li designates it as a medal, it has been noted by Kann that coins such as this were minted immediately upon the promulgation of the Constitution by the Peking Senate in 1923. Given Tsao Kun's notorious reputation for having bribed members of the Pei Yang Government Assembly with 5,000 Dollars each in his bid for the presidency, which he held for barely a year, it is far from a stretch to see this piece as having been intended as part of those bribes. Close examination of the offering reveals strikingly few marks both for the coin's size and the softness of the metal, clearly confirming its choice status; for comparison, the Ultima (Heritage Auction #3033, August 2014, Lot 23180) and W&B Capital Collection examples certified at only MS62, while no specimen was present among the holdings of Norman Jacobs. Certainly among the nicest representatives to have come to market in recent years, with the highest grade yet awarded for the type being a '65. From the Tony Ma Collection

HID09801242017

© 2022 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved

To the auctioneer's website