Hsüan-t'ung copper Specimen Pattern Li ND (1910) SP63 Brown PCGS, Vienna mint, KM-Pn272, Hsu-31, CCC-627, CL-HB.75, Duan-2484, Hsu (Copper)-531, HNS-2166. A significant Pattern for its small size, ranked as the rarest of the just two varieties in copper by Zhou and Li. Planned as part of a larger, new denominational series following a hiatus in minting at Tientsin in 1909 and the death of Emperor Kuang-hsü in 1908, the Li was to be the smallest coin produced, forming the tail-end of a 4-coin copper series comprised of the 2 Fen, 1 Fen, 5 Li, and Li (replacing the 20, 10, 5, and 1 Cash). Established by Wright as having been produced in Vienna by engravers Rudolf Neuberger, Adolf Hofman, and Josef Prinz, the issue was ultimately shelved when Luigi Giorgi introduced a freshly designed series of coins based on the more conventional Cash standard in 1911. The distinguished walnut surfaces on this piece yield significant gloss and a welcome hint of periwinkle iridescence. It is a decidedly rare occurrence for this issue to appear at public auction and we look forward to the excitement on the auction floor when this lot crosses the block. HID09801242017 © 2024 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved

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