Heritage Offers Very Rare, Very Large Chinese Gold Coins Certified by NGC

Three very large gold coins are leading the way among more than 400 rarities certified by Numismatic Guaranty Company® (NGC®) in an upcoming Heritage Auctions sale. Bidding is expected to get underway in mid-May for the HKINF World & Ancient Coins Platinum Session and Signature® Auction, which is focused on Chinese rarities and will be held June 19-21, 2024.

One of the top lots in the auction is a China 1992 1 Kilogram Gold 2,000 Yuan - Compass with Serial Number 08 graded NGC PF 69 Ultra Cameo (lot 30125). These coins were among the earliest kilogram gold coins struck anywhere and are highly sought by collectors of Chinese numismatics, which is reflected in the pre-auction estimate for this particular coin of $680,000 to $700,000. From a mintage of just 10, this coin was part of a series celebrating inventions and discoveries, with this issue celebrating the compass.

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The auction features another 1 kilogram coin from the same series of inventions and discoveries: a China 1992 Gold 2,000 Yuan - Seismograph with Serial Number 008 graded NGC PF 68 Ultra Cameo (lot 30126), which also has an estimate of $680,000 to $700,000. Today's gold prices are several times what they were in the year this coin was issued, and a kilogram of gold now has an intrinsic value of about $75,000. The serial number of 8 is considered lucky in China because it sounds similar to the Chinese word for fortune.

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Another highly desirable serial number can be found on the China 1992 Gold 2,000 Yuan - Completion of Lunar graded NGC PF 69 Ultra Cameo (lot 30142), which has an estimate of $580,000 to $600,000. The serial number 1 makes this piece stand out from a mintage of 20 issued to celebrate the Lunar Series of coins that began in 1981. The coin's reverse shows the designs of all 12 coins in the series, each with a different creature of the Chinese zodiac.

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Other NGC-certified highlights in the auction include:

• a China 1993 Gold 1,500 Yuan - Guanyin graded NGC PF 69 Ultra Cameo (lot 30124), which has an estimate of $220,000 to $240,000
• a China 1904 Hupeh Tael - Small Characters graded NGC MS 63 (lot 30040), which has an estimate of $150,000 to $200,000
• a China 1989 Gold 1,500 Yuan - 40th Anniversary of Republic graded NGC PF 68 Ultra Cameo (lot 30123), which has an estimate of $130,000 to $150,000
• a China 1923 Gold Dollar graded NGC MS 62 (lot 30098), which has an estimate of $100,000 to $200,000
• a China 1992 1,000 Yuan - Year of the Monkey with Serial Number 01 graded NGC PF 69 Ultra Cameo (lot 30140), which has an estimate of $92,000 to $94,000
• a China 1916 Hung Hsien Silver Dollar pedigreed to the Ta Han Collection graded NGC AU 58 (lot 30088), which has an estimate of $80,000 to $100,000
• a China 1999 1 Kilogram Gold 2,000 Yuan Panda with Serial Number 016 graded NGC PF 67 Ultra Cameo (lot 30156), which has an estimate of $80,000 to $100,000
• a China 1982 Brass Pattern for a Gold 100 Yuan Panda - Great Wall graded NGC PF 69 Ultra Cameo (lot 30151), which has an estimate of $60,000 to $80,000
• a China 1994 12-ounce Gold 1,000 Yuan - Lunar Series, Dog with Serial Number 43 graded NGC PF 69 Ultra Cameo (lot 30146), which has an estimate of $60,000 to $65,000
• a China 1995 12-ounce Gold 1,000 Yuan - Lunar Series, Pig with Serial Number 54 graded NGC PF 69 Ultra Cameo (lot 30149), which has an estimate of $60,000 to $64,000

Estimates are provided by the auction house. The $ symbol represents US Dollars.