CHINA-SHENSI ND(1898) 5 Cents Silver Pattern, Heaton Mint, L&M377, K159, NGC SP63. This trial pattern with beautiful design and good quality is one of the top Chinese coins.

Researcher Kalgan Shih implied that this set of Shensi dragon coins could not have been minted until the 1920's, because Shensi did not have a mint until then. We know now that these coins are actually trial strikings made in England by the Heaton Mint.

In 1898, Wei Guang Tao, the governor of Shensi province, petitioned to build a mint in Shensi province to make own silver coins and bought dies and coining machines from Heaton mint. Total 10 sets of patterns made by this mint, each set includes $1, 50 cents, 20 cents, 10 cents and 5 cents. Three sets were put in the museum of Heaton mint, one set hung up in the office of the director; other 6 sets were shipped to Shensi province. While the dies and specimens arrived in Shensi, the Shensi mint was just stopped to build. So this series were not made in circulation and only specimens remained.

Most of the genuine coins on the market are proof strikings. In the mid 1970's, the Heaton Mint sold its duplicate Chinese coins (as well as those made for other countries around the world) to the old British coin firm, Spinks. Among the coins released at that time were a number of Shensi dragon coins. An NGC SP63 sold for USD 47,200 in Champion 2011 December sale.

NGC SP63