Continuing our recap of the Stack's Bowers and Ponterio April Hong Kong Showcase Auction we feature today a gold medal from a pivotal moment in Chinese history. This gold medal brought amazing results, realizing $47,800 and surpassing the high estimate.

The Boxers seized the city of Tientsin in June 1900, and the Eight Nation Alliance (Germany, United States of America, France, United Kingdom, Italy, Japan, Russia and Austria-Hungary) recaptured the city on July 14th. Two weeks later the Alliance formed a provisional government on July 30th. For nearly two years the provisional government exerted military control over the city of Tientsin and the surrounding area. Toward the end of the spring of 1902, Governor Yuan Shih-kai of Chihli began talks to return control of the city and its environs to the Qing government.

Tientsin Tutung Yamen ceased to be on August 15th, but during its tenure it produced gold and silver medals, with the gold examples only presented to the foreign dignitaries of the provisional government. This medal is of great historical importance, clearly representing an international effort to stabilize the rapidly deteriorating control of the Qing dynasty. Only a small number of these gold medals are extant today, with most other examples impaired in some capacity. The piece presented here is absolutely stunning, with beautiful luster, pristine enamel on the nation's flags and choice honeycomb gold coloration. It is truly a world class example by any measure, and worthy of inclusion in the most advanced collection.

The obverse design features an impressive vexillogic display (left to right, Germany, the United States of America, France, Great Britain, the Kingdom of Italy, Japan and Russia). Just below the flags appears a banner stating: "PAX LABOR." The outer French inscription states "Provisional Government of the District of Tientsin," with the dates of 1900-1902. The reverse displays a central two line Chinese inscription within a laurel and oak wreath.

To read the complete article, see:
Exceptional Quality Tientsin Tutung Yamen 1902 Gold Medal Results (www.stacksbowers.com/News/Pages/Blogs.aspx?ArticleID=2051)

To read the complete article, see:
Memorial Medal of T'ienchin Tutung Yamen, in gold. (https://chinesemedal.wordpress.com/2011/08/17/memorial-medal-of-t%E2%80%99ienchin-tutung-yamen-in-gold/)

To read the Wikipedia article, see:
Tianjin Provisional Government (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tianjin_Provisional_Government)

To read a Heritage lot description, see:
China: Tientsin Provisional Government Boxer Uprising gold Medal 1902 (http://coins.ha.com/itm/china/china-tientsin-provisional-government-boxer-uprising-gold-medal-1902-/a/3030-23341.s)