Chinese Gold Coin Portraying Empress Dowager Among NGC-graded Rarities in Heritage Sale

A gold coin showing the woman who dominated the final decades of China's Imperial Era is among nearly 500 rare ancient and other world coins certified by Numismatic Guaranty Company® (NGC®) in an upcoming auction. Bidding begins in early March for Heritage Auctions' Spring Hong Kong World Coins Showcase Auction, which will be held April 7-8, 2024.

A top highlight of the sale is the undated China Gold Fantasy Empress Dowager graded NGC UNC Details (lot 21212). It is not known when these coins portraying Empress Dowager Cixi were struck, but they have generated excitement within the Chinese numismatic community. In 1856, Cixi gave birth to the Xianfeng Emperor's only son, who succeeded him when he died in 1861. For decades, Chinese imperial power was effectively managed by the politically shrewd Cixi, who had her nephew installed as emperor after her own son died of smallpox at age 18. Cixi died in 1908, as the Imperial Era was drawing to a close.

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Other NGC-certified highlights in the sale include:

• an Attica, Athens c.440-404 B.C. Silver Tetradrachm graded NGC Ancients MS, 5/5 Strike and 4/5 Surface (lot 21005)
• a China 1905 Kirin 50 Cents graded NGC MS 62 and pedigreed to the Wang Collection (lot 21131)
• a China 1901 Kirin Silver Dollar graded NGC AU 58 (lot 21133)
• a China 1914 Yuan Shih-Kai Silver Dollar graded NGC MS 63 (lot 21227)
• a China YR21 (1932) Silver Dollar - Birds Over Junk graded NGC AU Details (lot 21249)
• a China 1999 5-ounce Gold 500 Yuan - Republic 50th Anniversary graded NGC PF 69 Ultra Cameo (lot 21294)
• a China 1994 150 Yuan Unicorn graded NGC PF 68 Ultra Cameo (lot 21305)
• a Straits Settlements 1903B Silver Dollar - Incuse Mintmark graded NGC MS 63 (lot 21835)
• a Thailand (1863) 2 Baht graded NGC MS 62 (lot 21856)