The dinner and ceremonies for the Nicholas P.(Nick) Brown Award for the Advancement of Chinese Numismatics was held at the Sofitel Hotel Macau at Ponte 16 on Dec. 5, 2015. The 2015 winner was Mr. Yu Min, the senior designer of the Shanghai Mint. The first winner of Person of the Year (2013) Award Danny Spungen presented the award.
Every year since Nick’s passing in 2013, the award has been given twice, each year by the Committee: once for Lifetime Achievement, and once for recognition of the past year’s contributions to our hobby, thus the “Person the the Year”. Earlier last year, the 2015 Lifetime Achievement was awarded posthumously to M. Oka, a pioneer in developing the international market for modern Chinese coins
The 2015 annual honoree, Mr. Yu Min, graduated from Shanghai Arts & Crafts College in August 1980 then started working in coin design and engraving in the Shanghai Mint. In August 1987 he graduated from Department of Sculpture, Central Academy of Craft Art. In 1996, Mr. Yu studied at Repin Academy of Fine Arts.
The 1983 Silver Panda Coin designed and engraved by Yu Min won “Coin of the Year: Best Crown” in 1985. These awards each year are determined by a committee at Krause Publications, respected publishers of The Standard Catalog of World Coins, and have become internationally recognized as the “Oscars” for new mint issues.
Mr. Yu has designed more modern PRC panda coins than any of the other China Mint designers. Among his many achievements of design over the years includes both the stunning 2014 and 2015 Macau Numismatic Society Annual Expo Commemorative Pandas, the Modern Chinese Painting Master (Xu Beihong) 1/4 oz. Gold Coin “Red leaves and Magpies” and the 70th anniversary of the victory of Chinese people's resistance war against Japanese invasion and the world Anti-Fascist War 5 oz. Silver Coin “V” symbol.
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Xu Beihong "Red leaves and Magpies" |
The Modern Chinese Painting Master (Xu Beihong) 1/4 oz. Gold Coin |
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70th anniversary of the victory of Chinese people's resistance war against Japanese 5 oz. Silver Coin |
2014 Macau Numismatic Society Annual Expo Commemorative Panda |
In addition to the traditional Nicholas P. Brown awards, the committee felt it appropriate to give the first Special Achievement Awards. These were presented to Nanjing Mint designer Ms. Zhang Chenchen and to Shanghai Mint artist Ms. Dong Huizhen. Ms. Zhang and Ms. Dong designed and engraved the Modern Chinese Painting Master Xu Beihong’s “Harmony of Two Immortals” 1-ounce silver coin.
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Xu Beihong "Harmony of Two Immortals" |
The Modern Chinese Painting Master (Xu Beihong) 1 oz. Silver Coin |
“Red leaves and Magpies” is Xu Beihong’s swan song and one of his favorites. The painting is rectangular while the gold coin is round and only in 1/4 oz. weight. “So it was necessary to make adjustments when I designed this coin,” said designer Yu Min. Mr. Yu enlarged the magpies and the red leaves, and enhanced the red leaves color, a perfect rendering of Xu Beihong’s painting in such a small space.
Harmony of Two Immortals is recognized as the earliest known work of Xu Beihong. It is said that it was painted by Xu when he was 19, the most difficult time of his life, to express his thanks to the chef who helped Xu hold a funeral ceremony for Xu’s father. When Ms. Zhang designed the 1 oz. Silver Coin, she represented Xu Beihong’s vertical scroll painting “Harmony of Two Immortals” in vertical to make the Two Immortals figures more impressive while Ms. Dong engraved the two immortals in high relief. The laser-engraved left and right maple leaves make the background more subtle.
The 2015 Modern Chinese Painting Master (Xu Beihong) 1/4 oz. Gold Coin and 1 oz. Silver Coin set is considered to be the finest China Mint product in many years. The coins were made using a combination of traditional and modern die making processes including sand blasting and lasering (frost and texture), polishing (to add a mirror finish), and coloring (using single and multiple color overlays). This combination of artistic interpretation and blending of new and old die making and minting technology resulted in a uniquely real representation of the Chinese traditional stylistic ink-painting that these coins are based on.
Further Reading : Nick Brown Biography
Building a Collection
Nick Brown was always associated with China’s highend modern coins. Since he was America’s most famous dealer of high-end Chinese coins, his influence has been deep in this field.
As a great coin collector, Nick Brown’s passion was unbounded. He devoted himself and his time in accumulating knowledge. His motto was “Collect–InvestHave fun.” He lived up to this and kept challenging himself to better understand high-end coins. Though he was already an expert with a sizable collection, he still tirelessly kept trying to upgrade his own collection and his own knowledge.
Another part of his success, Nick attended many coin shows. He generously showed off his considerable collection of rare modern coins, unlike other dealers, who show their importance by purchasing quantities of coins and filling their display trays. One of Nick’s noted achievements was all of his collection was graded and ranked by NGC.
With coins, comes interest in life
Nick confessed that in the coin world he was 70% collector and 30% dealer. Therefore, on the other side of being a successful coin dealer, he was also a successful coin collector. He loved to collect, to learn more and understand how the coin market worked.
In many people’s minds, Nick was not only a great coin collector, but also a great philanthropist. His kind manner, combined with an attentive personality, was praised by people who dealt with him. He always listened patiently to people and gave them his opinions.
As a top leader in modern Chinese coins, Nick Brown's reputation will continue to deeply influence anyone who possesses an interest in these coins.
Nick Brown and the Nick Brown Award for the Advancement of Chinese Numismatics Medal
The Nick Brown Award for the Advancement of Chinese Numismatics
The Nick Brown Award for the Advancement of Chinese Numismatics Ceremony was organized by the Nick Brown Award for the Advancement of Chinese Numismatics Committee, with Robert Mish of Mish International serving as the committee chairman. Michael Chou (CEO of iAsure Group), David Camire (President of NCS), Publisher of Pricepedia Peter Anthony and senior numismatic scholar of modern Chinese commemorative coins King Chan are the committee members. Mr. Zhang Weiyan, who had worked in the Shanghai Mint and Hong Kong Po Sang Bank, serves as the senior consultant to the committee. The ceremony was also sponsored by Mish International and iAsure Group.
The Nick Brown Award for the Advancement of Chinese Numismatics Medal is sponsored by Mish International and iAsure Group to recognize those people who contribute significantly to the advancement of Chinese numismatic research and collecting. The Medal, designed by Han Xiaosheng and Jin Yaxuan, was struck in copper, silver and silver with gold gilt by the Shenyang Mint. The No. 0 silver with gold gilt medal and the No. 0 silver medal were both presented to Nick Brown's family.
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Metal |
Diameter |
Fineness |
Weight |
Mintage |
No. |
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Silver with Gold Gilt |
80mm |
.999 |
500g. |
6 |
0-5 |
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Silver |
80mm |
.999 |
500g. |
14 |
0-13 |
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Copper |
80mm |
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200 |
1-200 |
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The Nick Brown Award Dinner Ceremony
2013
A private memorial banquet for Nick Brown of Majestic Rarities, was held at the Hyatt Regency, Hong Kong, on Aug. 24, 2013. Many people who admired Nick, including good friends from America, Germany, Japan, Singapore, China and Taiwan, gathered at the Hyatt to remember this great person in Chinese numismatics.
Nick’s friends, including CCG’s CEO, Steven Eichenbaum, Danny Spungen, Peter Anthony, NCS’s president, David Camire, Robert Mish (president of Mish International), and iAsure’s CEO, Michael Chou all gave speeches remembering this great collector, dealer, and friend.
Danny Spungen (the founder of Why Not Collectibles) was given the first Nick Brown Person of the Year Award for the Advancement of Chinese Numismatics (Number 1 Silver Medal). The Nick Brown Lifetime Achievement Award for the Advancement of Chinese Numismatics (No.1 Silver with gold gilt medal) given to Martin Weiss, founder of Panda America Company.
2014
The Nick Brown Award for the Advancement of Chinese Numismatics ceremony was held at the Beijing InterContinental Hotel at 18:30 on October 24, 2014.
The first highlight of the ceremony was the appointment of Mr. Zhang Weiyan as the senior consultant to the Nick Brown Award committee. Mr. Zhang Weiyan worked in the Shanghai Mint and the Po Sang Bank in Hong Kong, and witnessed China’s modern coinage development. The Letter of Appointment was presented by Robert Mish. The Lifetime Achievement Award went to Mr. Yang Bingchao, who was in charge of the production of the Beijing Scenery Gold Medals, the 30th Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China, and the 1982 Panda Gold Coins. Mr. Yang Bingchao served as general manager of the Printing Company of the People’s Bank of China in 1980. On behalf of his father, Mr. Yang Xiaoguang received the award medal (No.2 Silver with gold gilt medal) and award certificate from Zhang Weiyan. The second Lifetime Achievement Award winner was Mr. Zhu Chunde, whose biography was presented by Mr. King Chan. Mr. Zhu Chunde, described as the “The Father of the Chinese Gold Coin”, served as vice president of the China Gold Coin Corporation. Mr. Zhu attended the fine arts school affiliated with the China Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA), and co-founded the China Gold Coin Corporation and the China Numismatic Society. He was the first Chinese judge of the Coin of the Year Award sponsored by Krause Publications. King Chan presented the award medal (No.3 Silver with gold gilt medal) and award certificate to Mrs. Zhu (the famous stamp designer Zou Jianjun). Michael Chou of the iAsure Group introduced the winner of the Person of the Year Award, Mr. Wang Shihong and presented him with the award medal (No. 2 Silver medal) and award certificate. Mr. Wang is the chief editor of the book series China Modern Precious Metal Commemorative Coins Appreciation, which is regarded as the encyclopedia of modern Chinese coinage. After 3 years’ painstaking editing and revision, the first volume of China Modern Precious Metal Commemorative Coins Appreciation was released on 24th October during 2014 Beijing International Coin Expo.
Mr. King Chan served as the official translator for this award ceremony. The distinguished guests included the following: former Party Secretary of the China Banknote Printing and Minting Corporation (CBPM), Mr. Zhang Jiedong; Party Secretary of the Shanghai Mint, Mr. Gu Jun; cultural department director of CBPM, Mr. Wang Hui; vice president of the Shenyang Mint, Mr. Qin Xiaoxiang; chief art officer of CBPM Museum, Mr. Qu Zhenrong; general manager of the Shanghai Shenquan Industry & Trading Co. Ltd. (a subsidiary of the Shanghai Mint), Mr. Yuan Zhanhong; principal senior engraver and designer of the Shanghai Mint, Mr. Luo Yonghui; Nick Brown Award medal designers Han Xiaosheng and Jin Yaxuan of the Shenyang Mint, and senior designer Chang Huan of the Shenyang Mint; 2015 Panda Coin designer, Mr. Rocky Zhao of the Shanghai Mint; the 2nd general manager of the China Gold Coin Corporation, Mr. Pi Zhikai; former president of the China Great Wall Coins Investments Ltd., Mr. Zhao Yansheng, the current vice president, Mr. Liu Hongqi, and manager, Anita Chou; prominent China Great Wall Coins Investments Ltd. international distributors Mr. Masahiro Oka from Japan Taisei Corporation, J.C. Lee from Korea Hwadong Corporation, and Ms. Andrea Lang from the Austria Mint; China Gold Coin Corporation franchisee and Shanghai Yintai president, Zhang Ronghua; jibinet chairman, Yu Jiwei; chief editor of Qian Bi, Yin Min; senior collector and researcher, Ge Zukang; senior panda coin collector, Yuan Xiong; European auction house Künker Auction representative, Petr Kovaljov; YJ Online general manager, Ding Feng; Coin in Coin chairman, Chen Haomin; vice president of PCGS, Ms. Muriel Eymery; and NGC China Manager Zhao Zhenyang. All the attendees enjoyed a fabulous award dinner and the great memories of Nick Brown.
2015
The Nick Brown Lifetime Achievement Award for the Advancement of Chinese Numismatics ceremony was held at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare Hotel at 18:30, 12nd August 2015. The winner of this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award was Masamichi Oka (1924–1997). Mr. Oka graduated in Tokyo University in 1948 and established Taisei Stamps & Coins Co., Ltd. in 1967 (Taisei is the most important panda coin distributor in Japan). He was the Chairman of JNDA (Japan Numismatic Dealers’ Association) and the Vice Chairman of WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature), Japan. He was author of Silver Crowns of the Far East; one of the major contributors to the standard reference book, Gold Coins of the World authored by Arthur L. Friedberg, as well as to the new edition of Modern World Coins authored by Richard S. Yeoman. Mr. Oka’s son Masahiro Oka, the president of Taisei Coins Corporation, was present to accept the award on behalf of his father.
The distinguished guests included, but were not limited to: the former president of Panda America, Martin Weiss; distributor of China Gold coins/former president of PNG (Professional Numismatists Guild), Fred Weinberg; president of Korea Hwadong, J.C.Lee; Ulrich Künker, director of the German auction house Künker; the former president of International Bank Note Society (IBNS)/governor of ANA Joseph Boling; Neil Shafer, the former president of International Bank Note Society (IBNS)/chief editor of Standard Catalog of World Paper Money by Albert Pick; chairman of NGC, Mark Salzberg and David Camire, president of NCS; incoming president of ANA Jeff Garrett; and the famous American numismatic researchers Ron Guth and 2015 ANA Numismatist of the Year winner Fred Schwan.
Winners List
Lifetime Achievement Award
Martin Weiss (2013, No. 1 Silver with gold gilt medal)
Yang Bingchao (2014, No. 2 Silver with gold gilt medal)
Zhu Chunde (2014, No. 3 Silver with gold gilt medal)
Masamichi Oka (2015, No. 4 Silver with gold gilt medal)
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Martin Weiss |
Yang Bingchao |
Zhu Chunde |
Masamichi Oka |
Person of the Year Award
Danny Spungen (2013, No.1 Silver Medal)
Wang Shihong (2014, No. 2 Silver Medal)
Yu Min (2015, No. 3 Silver Medal)
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Danny Spungen |
Wang Shihong |
Yu Min |
The Nick Brown Special Achievement Award
Zhang Chenchen (2015.12)
Dong Huizhen (2015.12)
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King Chan(R) hosts the ceromony with Danny Spungen |
Michael Chou(R) CEO of the Champion Auction presents the award to the designer Zhang Chenchen of the Nanjing Mint |
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Zhang Yuequn accepts the prize presented by Peter Anthony(R) on behalf of Dong Huizhen of Shanghai Mint |
Zhang Yuequn, winner of the first ‘Person of the Year’ Danny Spungen and Committee members |
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Dr. Ulf Drager introduces the Moritzburg Museum in Halle |
(From L) Richard Guo, Michael Chou, Ulf Drager, Ken Krah and King Chan |
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The awards banquet |
The awards banquet |
