NGC Certifies China 1911 Long Whisker Dragon Pattern Gold Dollar
Posted on 8/30/2017
Numismatic Guaranty Corporation® (NGC®) has certified an extremely rare China 1911 Long Whisker Dragon Pattern Gold Dollar. Graded NGC SP 63
, it is considered to be one of the most valuable coins in vintage Chinese numismatics.
This rarity was submitted in Shanghai to the NGC Advanced Chinese Authentication Bureau (ACAB), which was established in March 2017 to bring the highest level of sophistication to vintage Chinese coin authentication. After the NGC ACAB authenticated the coin, it was graded by NGC and encapsulated with the prestigious NGC ACAB Red Dragon label.
The coin had previously been encapsulated by a different third-party coin grading service. NGC offers a CrossOver service that allows owners of coins graded by certain other services to have their coins evaluated by NGC while still in these holders. The coins will be removed from their holders and certified by NGC only if they meet NGC's grading standards.
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| 1911 Long Whisker Dragon Pattern Gold Dollar Click images to enlarge. |
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Struck in 1911, the Long Whisker Dragon Pattern Gold Dollar was made at a turning point in Chinese history. The Qing Dynasty, which had begun in 1644, was coming to a turbulent end — and with it, two millennia of imperial rule. A year after this coin was struck, the last emperor of China, the six-year old Puyi, abdicated.
The coin’s name — Long Whisker Dragon — comes from the bold dragon that dominates the obverse. The other side features legends that include the Chinese character for silver: 銀. This coin, however, was struck in gold, most likely as a presentation piece. It is one of only a few examples known to exist in gold.
Attributed as L&M-1083, this extraordinary coin has been owned by some of the most famous collectors of all time. It is pedigreed to King Farouk of Egypt, numismatist Eduard Kann, British collector Eli Wallitt and collector Haru S. C. Chang of the Chang Foundation. It is now part of the Chen Gi Mao collection. (Mr. Chen, who is a consultant for the NGC ACAB, was not involved in the grading of this specimen.)
“It is an honor to certify such a magnificent and distinctive piece of Chinese history,” said Ken Krah, NGC Vice President and Grading Finalizer. “We are thrilled that the establishment of the NGC ACAB has allowed us to examine some of the greatest vintage Chinese rarities.”
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