China Guardian concluded its 2012 Spring Auctions, realizing a total of 2.141 billion yuan in six days as the last session of the Spring Stamps and Covers, Coins, Banknotes and Bronze Mirrors Auction ended on May 21, bringing in 79.90 million yuan.
Guo Xueguang, general manager of the Stamps and Coins Department, said, “Considering the overall environment of the art market, we have made several changes to the number of lots and catalogs, which leads to remarkable results. Lots that are rare and much-sought are specially favored. For example, the "Long Live Complete Victory of the Great Cultural Revolution" stamps sold for 7,302,500 yuan, which stands as a record for a stamp in China; a full set of first series of the renminbi sold for 4,025,000 million yuan. In addition, when measured just by realized prices, collections by well-known collectors attract big purchases, such as Gong Xinzhao, Xu Zhantang and Japanese coin collector Hirao Sanpei. In the Spring Auctions, we also find that the market is beginning to move into more refined segments.”
Long Live Complete Victory of the Great Cultural Revolution
Estimated to be worth between five to eight million yuan, the "Long Live Complete Victory of the Great Cultural Revolution" stamps became a screaming buy on the evening of May 21. Issued in 1968 when China was mired in the Cultural Revolution, they were immediately withdrawn due to a design mistake and few appeared in the public since, making them a public scarcity and much-sought piece among collectors.
“The withdrawn stamp is among the rarest ones in China. Only eight pieces of the same version exist now...It is brand new, rich in colors and in good condition. The record price reflects its scarcity and the fervent attention from the collectors. ” said Mr. Guo.
In December 1968, the then Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications decided to issue a series of stamps in celebration of “the overall success of the Cultural Revolution”, which led to the production of the most known stamps in Chinese history - The Whole Country Is Red and Long Live Complete Victory of the Great Cultural Revolution. But the latter was immediately withdrawn due to a design mistake.
A Full Set of First Series Renminbi (1948-1951)
At the Banknotes session, a full set of first series renminbi (1948-1951) sold for 4.025 million yuan. The people's Bank of China, first series of the renminbi, 500-yuan sold for 655,500 yuan; tianzhen, private banknote, from the Xianfeng Period of the Qing Dynasty sold for 437,000 yuan.
A set of ancient silver wine vessels, collected by Gong Xinzhao, sold for 4,197,500 yuan at the Ancient Bronze Mirrors, Gold and Silver Utensils session and a gilding official seal of Tibet from the Qing dynasty sold for 598,000 yuan. The seal
A gold box with engraved human figures from the Qing dynasty sold for 460,000 yuan. The box was made by the Imperial Academy and presented as a gift by the government official Qi Shichang to his aunt.
Bronze Mirror with Two Phoenixes
A bronze mirror with two phoenixes, collected by Xu Zhantang, took the first slot, raking in 4.025 million yuan, and two bronze mirrors designed with auspicious beasts and grapes sold for 402,500 yuan.
Gold and silver sycees, ancient coins collected by Hirao Sanpei, were well received. A small-size brass mother coin “宣統(tǒng)通寶” with two Chinese characters“寶泉”sold for 690,000 yuan, seven times its estimated price. A brass mother coin “光緒通寶” with “寶泉”on reverse sold for 517,500 yuan.
A Silver Sycee of 50-taels from the Tang Dynasty
A silver sycee of 50-taels from the Tang Dynasty, collected by Gong Xinzhao, sold for 494,500 yuan. According to Sun Zhonghui, an expert in ancient coins, the sycee was probably used to collect taxes on private houses.
In addition, a silver sycee of salt merchants, 50-taels, from the Jin Dynasty sold for 460,000 yuan. Sycees from the Jin Dynasty are few in mummers and most of them are now collected by national museums, which adds to their appeal.
At the Modern Coins session, the highlights included the Hupoo ta ching silver pattern coin inscribed with the Chinese character for middle,"中", which sold for 391,000 yuan; Kiangnan province, kuang hsu yuan pao, old kiangnan(undated), ornamental edge, 7 mace 2 cds(lm210a), 1897, au, sold for 333,500 yuan, closed followed by a silver pattern coin of dragon and phoenix produced in 1923, which sold for 332,000 yuan.