Qing Dynasty. Kuang-hsü 69-Coin 1 Cash Money Tree ND (1887-1898) XF (Broken), Board of Revenue mint, cf. KM-C1-16, Hartill-22.1275-1278 (for coin type), Opitz-pg. 230 (this piece illustrated). 600x100mm. Each coin: 25mm. Seldom do coin or "money" trees become available at auction, even less so large and nearly fully intact pieces--the tree at hand missing only a single coin (included with this lot with later brace attached) and the ornament from the top. Each coin preserves remarkably good detail, with minor evidence of corrosion confined to only a few pieces and minimal remnants of extra metal or roughness, a sandy patina visible throughout owing to the casting process. For comparison, we note that Stack's sold a similar item, with top ornament intact though missing one coin, for $11,000 hammer in their August 2018 Hong Kong auction (Lot 60335).

HID09801242017

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