A special gold British Trade Dollar has sold with outstanding results at AH Baldwin & Sons' Hong Kong Coin Auction, held on 21 August.
 Only six presentation examples of the British Trade Dollar exist, and this is the finest |
The coin is one of only six known to exist. They were struck as presentation coins at the Bombay Mint in 1902. Starting at $120,000, the example sold for $236,000.
The British Trade Coinage was issued to ease transactions when trading in exotic and luxury goods in China. The coins made for circulation were minted in silver, with inscriptions in Malay, Chinese and English.
The example at auction is in the finest condition of any of the presentation coins. It was brought to auction from the collection of Johanna Austin, with the proceeds to benefit the Museum of East Asian Art in Bath.
More spectacular results were seen by a 1866 Victoria silver proof half dollar, which was expected to make between $15,000 and $25,000, but eclipsed its estimate by 430.9% to sell for $106,200.
As Baldwin's continues its sale of the Ake Linden Collection, a silver pattern 10c CD1900 from the Peking Mint, graded SP61, sold for $82,600, a price also achieved by a Peking Mint 5c from the collection.
Paul Fraser Collectibles has a fantastic selection of rare coins for sale.
