Together, Four NGC-graded Modern Chinese Rarities Top Half a Million Dollars

Three modern Chinese 1-kilogram gold coins certified by Numismatic Guaranty Company® (NGC®) each realized prices over $150,000 in a Heritage Auctions sale, and another realized over $70,000. The World Coins Platinum Session and Signature Auction, was held June 21-22, 2023.

The four coins are from the Lunar Series, one of the most popular categories of Chinese numismatics. The earliest of the group is a 2004 Gold 10,000 Yuan Monkey graded NGC PF 68 Ultra Cameo (lot 30122). The mintage limit for this massive, high-denomination coin was a mere 15, and this is one of only two in the NGC Census. This example realized $180,000.

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Also realizing $180,000 was a 2006 Gold 10,000 Yuan Dog graded NGC PF 68 Ultra Cameo (lot 30124). It also comes from a mintage of 15 and is the highest graded of four examples in the NGC Census. The Lunar series' highly anticipated designs feature one of the 12 animals in the Chinese lunar calendar and are issued annually in a variety of metals and denominations.

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Meanwhile, a 2005 Gold 10,000 Yuan Rooster graded NGC PF 67 Ultra Cameo (lot 30123) realized $162,000. Like the other coins, it has an elegant scalloped edge. It is one of only three examples in the NGC Census and came from a mintage of 15.

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Finally, a fourth kilogram coin, a 2012 Gold 10,000 Yuan Dragon graded NGC PF 69 Ultra Cameo, realized $72,000. While the mintage for this particular coin (lot 30126) was much higher than the previous three, its price was bolstered by the fact that it earned the highest grade for any NGC-certified Gold 10,000 Yuan Lunar coin struck before 2013.

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All four of these coins were encapsulated in an NGC Oversize Holder because of their large size. NGC has an even larger holder called the NGC Mega Holder that can accommodate 10-kilogram coins. Learn more and see a video of a Year of the Tiger coin in an NGC Mega Holder here.