Baldwin’s recent sale set not one, but two, world records! The first was for a Chinese Hupeh silver 10 Cents of Ben Shen type. This series of coins features the Chinese characters ‘Ben Shen’, meaning ‘This Province’, to the left and right of the dragon, indicating that the coins are redeemable only in Hupeh. A study published in 2005 discovered the purpose of this, an official proclamation printed on reverse of a Hupeh Government Cash Bank note. It indicated that due to the lack of cash coins, the newly minted silver coins with ‘This Province’ were equivalent to 1,000 cash for paying taxes. The high price of copper caused a fluctuation in the exchange rate from silver to copper. This series was short lived, as authorities realised the public would not accept them at face value. The majority of this issue was recalled from circulation and melted. The auction house noted: ‘It is extremely rare to find these coins, especially in mint condition.’
SOLD FOR £65,000
The second record
