A rare 1909 copper Chinese 20-cash pattern coin realized $70,800 U.S., including the 18 percent buyer’s fee, in an Aug. 21 auction in Hong Kong.

The auction was conducted by by A.H. Baldwin & Son’s Ltd. and Ma Tak Wo Numismatic Co. Ltd.

The Honan Province coin measures 39 millimeters in diameter and was struck on an oversized planchet. The auction house noted it has "minor edge knocks" but is otherwise in Extremely Fine condition.

According to Edward Baldwin, chairman of the company: “This is the only example I have ever seen.  The one illustrated in [Chinese Copper Coins, by Zheng Ren Ji] is another coin, so there are at least two. Beyond that, I’d be guessing.”

Baldwin suggested that “just a few” of the patterns were made but that since they were not popular, the coinage was never issued.

The piece in the Baldwin’s sale is designated the Tai Ching type, indicating the coin is issued under the Qing Dynasty. 

The coin, part of the Ake Linden Collection, formerly was purchased in Baldwin’s Aug. 27, 2008, auction of the Dr. Norman Jacobs Collection of Chinese Silver & Copper Coins & Paper Money. In that 2008 auction, the pattern realized $29,900, including the 15 percent buyer’s fee.

The auction house estimated the coin at $1,500 to $2,000 in this sale, despite the 2008 sale result.

The auction in total realized $2,513,400 U.S., nearly three times the pre-sale estimate.

For full details about the sale, telephone the firm at (011) 44 20 7930 9808, email it or visit the firm’s website.