Lot 762. Three rare gold offering coins, Northern Song dynasty (AD 960-1127). Estimate USD 12,000 – USD 18,000. Price realised USD 201,600. © Christie's 2022

Each coin with a square aperture is cast on one side with two Buddhist figures, and on the reverse with four characters reading Chunhua yuan bao (Ingots of Chunhua). Each coin bears a number (either one yi, two er, or four si), on the top edge.

Provenance: Galaxie Art (B. K. Wong), Hong Kong, 1984.

Note: Chunhua is the fourth nianhao (reign title) that Emperor Taizong of Song used from 990-994 during the Northern Song dynasty. The four characters, Chunhua yuan bao, are believed to be based on the Emperor’s own calligraphy. It has been suggested that the Emperor commissioned coins of this type as an offering when he visited Mount Wutai in Shandong Province for Buddhist worshipping ceremonies. Although the identities of the Buddhist deities on the reverse of the ‘coin’ are not documented, the scene may represent “tongzi bai Guanyin”: Shancai tongzi (Child of wealth) standing on the lotus base on the left offering prayers to Guanyin (Goddess of compassion) seated in dhyanasana on the right.

Christie's. Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, New York, 25 march 2022