Republic Sun Yat-sen silver Specimen American Pattern "Junk" Dollar Year 18 (1929) SP61 PCGS, Hangchow mint, KM-Pn100, L&M-95, Kann-616, WS-0139. Produced from dies crafted at the Philadelphia mint, this Pattern holds significant historical value, originating shortly after the onset of the civil war between the Kuomintang-led government of the Republic of China and the Chinese Communist Party. It foreshadows one of the Republic's most renowned coins, the "Junk" Dollar of Sun Yat-sen. This Pattern was part of a series of trials commissioned from mints across the United States, Austria, Italy, Great Britain, and Japan. According to Wang Chun Li, dies from these designs were submitted to authorities at the Hangchow mint, where several pieces were struck from each pair of dies. Although the final design, notably the depiction of the Junk, underwent revisions, it was the Italian design by A. Motti that ultimately prevailed. Only the fourth example we have encountered, the present selection admits gentle friction to the sitter's temple and scattered surface wisps atop underlying brilliance and notable die polish lines. HID09801242017 © 2024 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved

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