Brilliance Through the Ages: Selected Coins from Chengxuan
Auctions
Edited by Zuo Jinghua and Niu Guoyu
First edition, July 2025
Published by Shanghai Century Publishing (Group) Co., Ltd.
and Shanghai Scientific & Technological Publishers
Format: 889 × 1270 mm, 1/16, 500,000 Chinese characters, 25
printed sheets
Price: RMB 368
ISBN: 978-7-5478-7249-9
Since its founding in November 2004, Chengxuan Auction has successfully conducted a wide array of sales spanning multiple collecting fields—bronze ware, jade, calligraphy and painting, classical furniture, and porcelain, among others. In the realm of numismatics, Chengxuan has built an outstanding reputation for integrity and authenticity, earning consistent acclaim from the numismatic community and repeatedly setting industry benchmarks. Notably, the coin section of Chengxuan’s 2022 Spring Auction achieved a remarkable total of 330 million RMB, a high-water mark that stands unbroken to this day. Over the years, the top-tier coins presented by Chengxuan have significantly elevated the standard of coin collecting in China, helping establish mainland China as the world’s foremost hub for collecting and trading Chinese coins.
Published to mark Chengxuan’s 20th anniversary, Brilliance Through the Ages: Selected Coins from Chengxuan Auctions—curated under the guidance of the auction house’s leadership—offers a visual celebration of the rare coins sold by Chengxuan over the past two decades. This volume also serves as adocumented witness to the growth of China’s coin auction market.
Organized into seven clear sections—Ancient Coins, Gold and Silver Ingots, Gold Coins, Silver Coins, Copper Coins, Modern Coins, and Banknotes—the catalog showcases 1,076 lots, each accompanied by its realized auction price. The classification is logical and systematic, backed by profound professional knowledge. The catalog meticulously records key details such as well-documented provenance, repatriation history, or inclusion in renowned collections, complete with detailed annotations and transaction prices from various auction periods for reference. Combining concise commentary with sharp, high-quality photography, this publication strikes a balance between scholarly rigor and accessible presentation. It is an indispensable resource for collectors, enthusiasts, and professionals alike—a reference work that merges historical data, market intelligence, and the artistry of numismatics into a single comprehensive volume, making it a truly rare catalog in the world of Chinese coins.
Amid the dual forces of digital transformation and shifting market dynamics, the coin sector is poised for both fresh opportunities and new challenges. Sustaining the vitality and prosperity of the coin auction market will require continued efforts to standardize practices, nurture expertise, enhance service quality, and innovate in business models.
Since its founding in November 2004, Chengxuan Auction has successfully conducted a wide array of sales spanning multiple collecting fields—bronze ware, jade, calligraphy and painting, classical furniture, and porcelain, among others. In the realm of numismatics, Chengxuan has built an outstanding reputation for integrity and authenticity, earning consistent acclaim from the numismatic community and repeatedly setting industry benchmarks. Notably, the coin section of Chengxuan’s 2022 Spring Auction achieved a remarkable total of 330 million RMB, a high-water mark that stands unbroken to this day. Over the years, the top-tier coins presented by Chengxuan have significantly elevated the standard of coin collecting in China, helping establish mainland China as the world’s foremost hub for collecting and trading Chinese coins.
Published to mark Chengxuan’s 20th anniversary, Brilliance Through the Ages: Selected Coins from Chengxuan Auctions—curated under the guidance of the auction house’s leadership—offers a visual celebration of the rare coins sold by Chengxuan over the past two decades. This volume also serves as adocumented witness to the growth of China’s coin auction market.
Organized into seven clear sections—Ancient Coins, Gold and Silver Ingots, Gold Coins, Silver Coins, Copper Coins, Modern Coins, and Banknotes—the catalog showcases 1,076 lots, each accompanied by its realized auction price. The classification is logical and systematic, backed by profound professional knowledge. The catalog meticulously records key details such as well-documented provenance, repatriation history, or inclusion in renowned collections, complete with detailed annotations and transaction prices from various auction periods for reference. Combining concise commentary with sharp, high-quality photography, this publication strikes a balance between scholarly rigor and accessible presentation. It is an indispensable resource for collectors, enthusiasts, and professionals alike—a reference work that merges historical data, market intelligence, and the artistry of numismatics into a single comprehensive volume, making it a truly rare catalog in the world of Chinese coins.
Amid the dual forces of digital transformation and shifting market dynamics, the coin sector is poised for both fresh opportunities and new challenges. Sustaining the vitality and prosperity of the coin auction market will require continued efforts to standardize practices, nurture expertise, enhance service quality, and innovate in business models.