A collection of 26 rare vintage Chinese coins certified by NGC realized $1,361,660 in April 2019 when it was sold by GreatCollections.
Dubbed the Cherrywood Collection for the small cherrywood box that held the coins for decades, the collection included bronze and silver patterns dating from the time when China’s Imperial Era was ending and its Republic was beginning. The coins have not been seen in the marketplace in over a century.
The top lot was a Year 3 (1911) Large Tailed Dragon Silver Dollar Pattern, L&M 33, graded NGC PF 65, which realized $511,875. This was the first example of this variety to appear in any major auction in over 10 years, and it is the finest certified by a full two grading points. Meanwhile, a Year 3 (1911) Long Whiskered Dragon Silver Dollar Pattern, L&M 29, graded NGC SP 64, realized $199,687.
All 26 coins in the Cherrywood Collection were certified by NGC. They were stored in manila envelopes within the cherrywood box, giving them an attractive, original toning.