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Sale 24



 
Lot 1544

MUGHAL: Akbar Adil Shah, 1753, AR rupee (11.29g), Allahabad, year one (ahad). KM-763. Zeno-78896 (same dies). Obverse couplet sikka zad dar jahan ba-fazl alah / shah-i-‘alam panah akbar shah, third known example of this Mughal Emperor, whose rupee was only recently discovered, and the only example ever offered on the market, choice VF to EF, RRRR, ex Paul Stevens Collection.
Estimated Value$12,000 - 16,000.

Akbar Adil Shah was placed on the throne by Safdar Jang in opposition to Ahmad Shah Bahadur in May 1753, but vanished from history late November of the same year. For more information see the article by Jan Lingen & Paul Stevens in JONS vol. 201 (2009), pp. 44-46, and the description of Zeno-78896.
Only 3 pieces are known of this ruler, all rupees of Allahabad, year one. Only Nikusiyar is rarer, with just 2 pieces known, as discussed on Zeno.

Estimate $12,000-16,000




 
Lot 803

MIN: Tian De, 943-945, large AE cash (13.31g). H-15.59A. yin above on reverse, cast in the year 944, minor planchet cracks as made, Fine, RRRR, ex Zhao Quanzhi Collection.
Estimated Value$10,000 - 15,000.

When Wang Yanzheng was proclaimed Emperor, he changed the name of the kingdom to Yin, but later restored the name of Min.

Estimate $10,000-15,000




 
Lot 1844

JAIPUR: Man Singh II, 1922-1949, AV nazarana mohur, Sawai Jaipur, 1945 year 24. KM-201. In the name of George VI, NGC graded MS64, RRRR.
Estimated Value$10,000 - 12,000.

All nazarana gold mohurs of Jaipur are rare but most of those usually encountered are in the name of Queen Victoria. Gold nazarana coins in the names of the Mughal ruler Muhammad Akbar II are known as well. A 1949 year 28 example in the name of George VI is published by NGC struck from very similar dies to this example. We could locate no other known examples of this date, and this specimen is possibly unique.

Estimate $10,000-12,000




 
Lot 1204

HUPEH: Kuang Hsu, 1875-1908, AR tael, year 30 (1904). Y-128.2. L&M-180. Twin dragons rampant with fiery pearl between dragon heads, small Manchu characters, NGC graded AU55, RR.
Estimated Value$10,000 - 12,000.

Originally 648,000 Hupeh taels were minted, this includes both large and small character types; however, it is unknown exactly how many of each were struck. This coin was introduced as part of a projected coinage reform based on the traditional Chinese weight standard, rather than the western Dollar system. In the initial proposal to produce these coins, it was also suggested to produce smaller denominations in the values of 1, 2, and 5 Mace. However, no such pieces have surfaced (even in pattern form) and it is unlikely they were ever produced. The general populous found it complicated in converting two distinctly different coinage systems, especially when making change. A Hupeh tael housed in the British museum supports this by showing evidence of cutting to make change. The British museum specimen is essentially mint state with a large pie shape section cut from the coin. The cut is in a similar manner to the "broken dollars" picture on pg. 121 figure 4.10 of Joe Cribb's reference "Money in the Bank". This short lived series circulated for only a brief period and was soon after replaced by the unified Tai Ching Ti Kuo silver coinage. Although the Hupeh tael coinage has a fairly large mintage, most were likely melted down to be made into later coinage. It is interesting to note that the Hupeh taels were struck in 0.877 fine silver, as opposed to the 0.960 fine silver set forth by the currency regulations of 1905.

Estimate $10,000-12,000




 
Lot 710

WARRING STATES: Anonymous, 350-250 BC, AE spade money (10.25g). H-3.482. Round foot spade type, archaic lin obverse, yi on reverse, natural casting hole at top, a superb example! EF, RRR.
Estimated Value$10,000 - 12,000.

Possibly issued by either the State of Qin, Zhao or Zhong Shan.
Photo size reduced.

Estimate $10,000-12,000




 
Lot 1298

TIBET: AR 5 sho, ND (1928-1930). KM-PnA12, formerly listed as Y-32 ("rare"), but now considered a pattern struck at the Dode mint with imported coining presses from the British firm Taylor & Challen, NGC graded MS63, RRR.
Estimated Value$9,000 - 10,000.

An example of this type from the Nicholas Rhodes Collection, graded in the catalog as "extremely fine, in PCGS holder", sold at the Spink Auction Hong Kong (August 2013), Lot 304, for $14,190.

Estimate $9,000-10,000




 
Lot 277

QARMATID: al-Hasan b. Ahmad, 972-975, AV dinar (3.83g), Dimashq, AH361. A-684. Without any additional titles, but referring to the Chief Sayyids al- sâdât al ru'asa anonymously, superb strike, without any weakness, choice EF, RRR.
Estimated Value$8,000 - 9,000.

The Qaramita, or Carmathians, were a radical Isma'ili sect originally centered in eastern Arabia that seized parts of Syria and Palestine following the collapse of the Ikhshidid kingdom in 358/969.

Estimate $8,000-9,000




 
Lot 1569

MUGHAL: Shah Alam II, 1759-1806, AV mohur (10.98g), Mongher (Mungir), AH1176 year 4. KM-—. With the star on the obverse middle panel, as with the previous issues of Murshidabad, narrow flan crack in the reverse center, VF to EF, RRRR, ex Paul Stevens Collection.
Estimated Value$7,000 - 9,000.

Authorized by the Nawab of Bengal, Mir Kasim Ali Khan, who moved his capital from Murshidabad to Monghyr in 1761, which ended on 4 Jumada al-Thani 1175. He struck silver and gold coins in the name of Shah Alam II only in 1176 year 4. The Hijri year 1176 ended in July 1763, about three months before Monghyr was seized by the British and annexed to the Bengal Presidency. The Standard Catalog lists the silver rupee of Monghyr (KM-661), but not the gold, and both are of the highest rarity. A somewhat nicer specimen sold at Baldwin's Auction 84, Lot 1268, for £7400 (about $11,825). The coins of Monghyr are described in detail by Stevens in his book, The Coins of the Bengal Presidency, p.244.

Estimate $7,000-9,000




 
Lot 2369

GREAT BRITAIN: Victoria, 1837-1901, AR Proof Set, 1893. S-PS8. SET of 6 silver coins with the "old head" portrait, graded by PCGS: 3 pence, PL64; 6 pence, PR64; shilling, PR63 CAM; florin, PR63; half crown, PR62 CAM; and crown, PR65CAM.
Estimated Value$6,500 - 7,500.

There is a typo on PCGS holder for the threepence, as it should read PF instead of PL, as this coin is clearly a proof striking. This is a well-matched, lovely toned original set.

Estimate $6,500-7,500




 
Lot 2364

GREAT BRITAIN: Victoria, 1837-1901, AR crown, 1887. S-3921. Splendid iridescent toning, NGC graded Proof 65.
Estimated Value$6,500 - 7,500

Estimate $6,500-7,500




 
Lot 2521

BRAZIL: José I, 1750-1777, AV 6400 reis, 1758-B. KM-172.1. Bahia mint, gorgeous bold strike, NGC graded MS66.
Estimated Value$4,500 - 5,500

Estimate $4,500-5,500




 
Lot 1188

CHINA: AR dollar (1916). Y-332. L&M-942. Struck for the inauguration of Yuan Shih Kai as Emperor Hung Hsien, facing military bust / winged dragon, NGC graded AU58, S.
Estimated Value$3,000 - 4,000

Estimate $3,000-4,000




 
Lot 2680

COLOMBIA: Gran Colombia, 1819-1831, AR 8 reales, 1820. KM-D7. Cr-115a. Restrepo-156.1. Mule of República de Colombia and Nueva Granada types, minor obverse laminations as usual for type, reverse rim nick, transitional one-year type, minor edge defeat but unusually good strike for these, VF, RR.
Estimated Value$2,500 - 3,500.

Unlisted in Elizondo and about 13 known examples. In December 1819, the new constitution was ratified and the new Republic of Colombia (Gran Colombia) was born, a union of the old Nueva Granada and Venezuela. The decree was received by Santander early in January of 1820. It was more important to have a new obverse die reading República de Colombia than to replace the Nueva Granada reverse die, thus it was prepared first, and used to produce this interim type. On February 12, 1820, it was decreed that "Nueva Granada" would be removed from the coinage, replaced by "Cundinamarca." Thus, it is estimated that production of this type lasted for less than a month, explaning the rarity of this piece. It is also the first Republican crown of both Colombia and Venezuela, and therefore of great historical importance. A similar but lower quality example sold in Heritage World Coin Auctions 3037, Lot 29285, for $3,200.

Estimate $2,500-3,500




 
Lot 745

XIN: Wang Mang, AD 7-23, AE key money (19.86g). H-9.13. qi dao wu bai (inscribed knife [value] five hundred), very light encrustation with Shuiyin Gu patina ("Ancient Mercury"), coins with this appearance were often unearthed in Shaanxi province, this is the finest example of this type we have yet seen! About Unc, R, ex Zhao Quanzhi Collection.
Estimated Value$1,300 - 1,500.

Wang Mang was a nephew of the Dowager Empress Wang, and during his time as her regent he usurped the throne, and founded the Xin Dynasty. He introduced a number of currency reforms which met with varying degrees of success. The first reform, in AD 7, retained the Wu Zhu coin, but reintroduced two versions of the knife money: the value 500 and value 5000 types which were cast from AD 7-9. This item is featured on the cover of this auction catalog.

Estimate $1,300-1,500