(t) CHINA. Silver Dollar Pattern, ND (1916). Tientsin Mint

(t) CHINA. Silver Dollar Pattern, ND (1916). Tientsin Mint. Hung-hsien (Hongxian [Yuan Shih-kai]). NGC MS-63.
L&M-945; K-664; KM-Pn52; WS-0100A; Wenchao-1101 (rarity: ★★). Variety with hat plume touching rim. A marvelous RARITY from the famed series, this example of one of the most demanded and hardest to acquire types, with just 16 specimens certified by PCGS and NGC (as opposed to the normally encountered L&M-942, that has over 500 certified examples). The strike is supremely sharp, leaving no detail unimpressed on the planchet. Rich, dark toning fleets and flicks across the surfaces, with the fields being swirled in a haze of die polish. Some friction and a single mark on the reverse likely account for the choice grade. A premium example, and one that does not enter the market particularly frequently. Most assuredly, this example will command premium bids, and may well render the estimate range nonsensical.

Ex: Chen Collection.Ex: Ultima Collection.

Estimate: $80000 - $120000