A Hupeh Province silver "Ben Shen" 20‐Cents was the star of Baldwin's recent coin and watch auction in Hong Kong.

The coin is so rare that it has been absent from all the major Chinese collections sold in recent years.

A modest pre‐sale estimate of $40,000‐50,000 was smashed with the lot achieving an astounding $150,000, selling to a Chinese bidder.

Ian Goldbart, Baldwin's managing director, said that record prices were achieved for many Chinese coins, adding: "The Asian market is thriving".