A Hsüan-t’ung silver Specimen Pattern “Long-Whiskered Dragon” Dollar Year 3 (1911) SP63 NGC sold for $690,000 to lead Heritage Auctions’ HKINF World Coins Platinum Session and Signature® Auction – Hong Kong to $9,675,525 June 21-23.
The result followed the June 20 HKINF World Paper Money Signature® Auction – Hong Kong auction that finished at $1,503,400, bringing the combined total for the two events, each of which included multiple new records, to $11,178,925.
The event, according to Heritage Auctions Executive Vice President of International Numismatics Cris Bierrenbach, trumpted both the demand for elite world and ancient coins, and also Heritage’s position as the world’s premier numismatic auctioneer.
“This event was another fantastic Hong Kong showing that not only confirms the state of the market,” he said, “but also that Heritage continues to bring world record prices for world-class material.”
That the Long-Whiskered Dragon Dollar finished atop the list of the auction’s top results was anything but surprising. This magnificent coin is among the famed Pattern issues of Luigi Giorgi that are so popular among collectors, many of whom consider them to be Holy Grail-caliber trophies among Chinese numismatics. Most coveted among Pattern dollars are those from 1911, the final year of the Qing Dynasty. Another Giorgi-designed masterpiece drew the auction’s second-highest winning bid when a Republic Yuan Shih-kai silver Specimen Pattern “L. Giorgi” Dollar Year 3 (1914) SP63 NGC went for $408,000.
A Shantung. Republic gold Pattern “Dragon & Phoenix” 20 Dollars 1926 MS64 
NGC more than tripled its pre-auction estimate when it rode 25 bids to a final result of $372,000. This example is one of only a handful of 20 Dollar Patterns that have surfaced in the last couple of decades, the last at Heritage being the MS64 2014 Ultima specimen.
The event included three Kweichow “Auto” dollars, a trio that was led by a spectacular Kweichow. Republic “Auto” Dollar Year 17 (1928) MS62 NGC that set a world record when it drew a winning bid of $336,000. Tied for the second-finest of the type, it was commissioned by governor Chow Hsi-chen to commemorate the completion of the first provincial highway in Kweichow, this issue departed from tradition by featuring the governor’s car as the centerpiece of its design, a declaration not only of the import of Chinese modernization efforts, but of their successful execution.
Three Hong Kong Dollars reached new records, as well — tops among them a British Colony. Victoria Dollar 1868 MS64 NGCthat was the top certified 1868 Silver Dollar and got a winning bid of $312,000. A British Colony. Victoria silver Proof Pattern Dollar 1865 PR65 NGC climbed to $240,000, while a British Colony. Victoria Proof Dollar 1866 PR65 Cameo NGC closed at a record $216,000.
Another exceptional coin that brought a record price was a Hunan. Kuang-hsü silver Specimen Pattern 50 Cents ND (1898) SP55 NGC, Heaton mint, KM-Pn2, L&M-379, Kann-Unl., WS-0890, Wenchao-788 (rarity 5 stars), which brought a winning bid of $204,000. Beautiful and elusive, this is one of just six examples produced as trials by the Heaton mint, further confirmed by extensive research on the topic produced upon the most recent sale of the Goodman example in 2020.
Other record-setting results included, but were not limited to:
A Hsüan-t’ung 10 Cents Year 3 (1911) MS68 PCGS: $90,000
A Charles I gold Unite ND (1637-1642) MS63 NGC: $49,200
A Kiangsi. Republic Fantasy Dollar 1912-Dated MS63 NGC: $25,200
With nearly 1,200 lots sold, the event produced countless other lots that yielded exceptional results, including but not limited to:
A Republic Yuan Shih-kai gold Specimen Pattern “Plumed Hat” Dollar ND (1916) MS62 NGC: $312,000
A Kuang-hsü gold Pattern Kuping Tael (Liang) 1907 MS61 NGC: $312,000
One of just three certified examples of a People’s Republic gold Proof Scalloped “Year of the Monkey” 10000 Yuan (Kilo) 2004 PR68 Ultra Cameo NGC: $180,000
The finest certified People’s Republic gold Proof Scalloped “Year of the Dog” 10000 Yuan (Kilo) 2006 PR68 Ultra Cameo NGC: $180,000
One of just 15 examples struck of a People’s Republic gold Proof Scalloped “Year of the Rooster” 10000 Yuan (Kilo) 2005 PR67 Ultra Cameo NGC: $162,000
Complete results from the World Coins event can be found at HA.com/3108.
As always, Heritage Auctions is fully confident that the audience of interested bidders will appreciate the breadth, scale, and quality of the offerings herein. Holding in tandem with the Hong Kong International Numismatic Fair, we present on of the top occasions for collector, investors, and enthusiasts alike to see some of the best pieces the market has to offer. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you want to share a story, discuss a lot, or better target that key issue that will complete your collection. To know more information, please email to hk@ha.com, or simply call +852 2155 1698.