CHINA-FENGTIEN 1897 Brass Sample 20 Cents, L&M-469 VAR., "TENG-TIEN", thicker than normal ones, NGC MS 62, NC CollectionMuch superior strike and proof like than other known examples. Therefore, this must be one of the first strikes from the German Otto Beh dies. Nelson Chang was a serious collector of the German Otto Beh patterns coins. He viewed them in the same category as the Heaton Mint patterns as he set the first Chinese coin to cross US 10,000 with the 1975 Paramount Long Beach Auction of the Hunan Dollar for USD 15,500 which shattered the auction record for a Chinese coin held by 1971 Kann Auction of 1903 Fengtien tael at us 3,000. In 1993, NC also purchased from Champion Auction thru Bruce Smith the Otto Beh 1897 Fengtien "Teng-Tien" Dollar in Brass for USD 27,500 which set a record price for a Chinese non gold or silver coin. NC had many German Otto Beh patterns in his collection and this "Teng-Tien" 20 cents pattern in brass was one of his favorites.Auction Record(s):6/2014, Germany, Realized EUR 20,0003/2014, Germany, Realized EUR 18,000

NGC MS 62