|
Sale 80
|
|
press UP arrow key to increase the zoom ratio.
press DOWN arrow key to decrease the zoom ratio.
press RIGHT arrow key to increase the zoom window size.
press LEFT arrow key to decrease the zoom window size.
|
|
Lot 3997
China - Empire. Ming Dynasty, Da Ming Bao Chao 1 Kuan, ND (1375-1398). Pick # AA10, S/M # T36-20. Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang the "Tai Zu". An iconic piece with exceptional overall condition and impressive ink quality after suffering 600 years. PMG AU-53 Net, Tears Foreign Substance. A hint of crease in the middle and couple paper flaws through the right part as made.
China was the first country that formed an efficient central government over a multi-state continent with one national law, one monetary system, one military policy, and one governor nominating examination designed by the court of the ruler in human history. Therefore, scholars have been studying the early financial system and governmental credit effects of Imperial China for centuries. A fascinating phenomenon that attracted most attention would be that China was able to use paper money to replace metal coinage in medieval and early Renaissance times, when money exchanging was still such a big problem even between towns only couple miles away from each other in Europe. And this great note we're offering here presents this part of history.
On the obverse, the denomination was shown in the middle, which is 1 Kuan, equals to 1,000 Chinese copper 1 cash coins back then. In the right and left column, the Chinese characters were written in a special style called "Zuan Shu", saying "The currency of the Great Ming Empire could be circulated all through the country". On the bottom, an announcement showing that this note has the equivalent value of copper coinage (silver coinage was still not common at that period of time in Ming Dynasty), any forging attempts would be sentenced to execution, and the reporter would be rewarded 250 Tael silver and a part of the counterfeiter's property. Around the inscription, the note was beautifully decorated with dragon, passionflower, and cloud patterns. Two vermilion seals were stamped by the government to certify the authenticity. On the reverse, there's a smaller denomination shown on the bottom together with another vermilion seal on the top.
The Ming notes are much rarer than Qing notes, due to the inflation and later wars, and not many hoards were found. According to the consignor, the first hoard of Ming notes was found during the 1900's, right after the war against the Boxers, while the second hoard which contains this one was found during the 1930's in an old temple in Beijing. A Norwegian missionary hand selected this note as the best one from that hoard, and after his death, this note was passed through a British dealer and later verified by the British Museum.
This note has the best overall condition among all the pieces the cataloger have ever seen, and the unheard of AU-53 grade proved this reality.
Estimated Value $10,000-UP.
|
| |
| Realized $12,925 |
|
