Lot 2970

Description

China, Republic, general issue, ten dollars, obverse Yuan Shih-kai left, issued year 1 (1916) of Hung Hsien, reverse a flying dragon clutching Buddhist thunder bolt and arrows, Chinese legend 'Empire of China, Founding of Country' (KM.Y.333, Kann 1515). As struck, uncirculated and very rare.

Ex Noble Numismatics Sale 89 (lot 2183). This Hung Hsien gold coinage comes from a movement in the summer of 1915 to re-establish the monarchy in China. The intention was to make Yuan Shih-kai the first emperor of this Hung Hsien regime. It was a successful unanimous ballot at the parliamentary meeting to make him the emperor. A rebellion in Yunnan upset the plans for this constitutional monarchy and the mandate was postponed indefinitely. This imperial adventure lasted 83 days and one of the souvenirs of this monarchy project was the minting of a ten dollar gold coin which was minted at Tientsin.