Topic: Great Wall 1984 3.3 oz. Silver Medal - Two Versions

[NBM]

Pandamonium,  thank you. Now forgive my ignorance but what is MCC?

Modern Chinese Coins

[mmissinglink]

This seems like good news for collectors and especially those who are getting their MCC authenticated / graded at NGC:   http://www.ngccoin.com/news/viewarticle.aspx?NewsletterNewsArticleID=1955

We may even see some clarity on the actual number of 1984 The Great Wall proof silver medals (the different variations) released into circulation as this number seems to still be a mystery.

[mmissinglink]

Does anyone know if this auction which includes a 1984 silver proof Great Wall medal is new and going on right now?

....http://www.cghka.com/english/pwm1_2_1.asp?id=51970&type=wlyz&pos=729

I am not familiar with how these online auctions work.
 
Thanks for any help on this.

[PandaCollector]

Does anyone know if this auction which includes a 1984 silver proof Great Wall medal is new and going on right now?

....http://www.cghka.com/english/pwm1_2_1.asp?id=51970&type=wlyz&pos=729

I am not familiar with how these online auctions work.
 
Thanks for any help on this.

Auction took place in November 2012.

Best wishes,
Peter Anthony
China Pricepedia
www.pandacollector.com

[mmissinglink]

Thank you....how can I learn what final price the Great Wall medal sold for?

[fwang2450]

Thank you....how can I learn what final price the Great Wall medal sold for?

From the record I checked, it did not sell.

[SANDAC]

Another Great Wall has surfaced.  It is graded as PF68, the highest grade.
http://www.ngccoin.com/certlookup/index.aspx?CertNumber=3684312-001
I believe it is the same coin listed recently on eBay for $9999:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/CHINA-1984-GREAT-WALL-3-TAEL-SILVER-EXTREMELY-RARE-NGC-PF68-/251337645823?ViewItem=&item=251337645823&nma=true&si=4r4aInwNWsfyqX0uau8L1zWJWd4%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Attached is the close up of the seal.

Edit: Is this the same coin listed by kirin here? http://china-mint.info/forum/index.php?topic=9443.msg54898#msg54898

[Kirin]

Hello Sandac;
              Yes it is the same "The Great Wall" proof.  It has been sold as well.
Regards;
Kirin

[mmissinglink]

Hello Sandac;
              Yes it is the same "The Great Wall" proof.  It has been sold as well.
Regards;
Kirin

It's a most stunning example of this rare silver proof medal. Do you know what the final sales price was?

[mmissinglink]

So this auction of this rare medal just completed and I was wondering about the box that this medal is in....is it the original box? I have a 1984 3.30z silver proof medal but the box mine came in was a bare wooden box (no colorful material). Anyone knows about the original boxes for these medals?

Also, the medal I own did not come in a plastic capsule yet the medal in this auction is in one yet that capsule fits into the "original box"...is that possible that these medals originally were sold in a plastic capsule?

 http://www.ebay.com/itm/CHINA-1984-Great-Wall-Large-Silver-Medal-3-3-oz-999-Silver-First-In-Series-Rare-/371003786385


.

[Kirin]

Hi, I believe that this "peacock" box was a standard release in the West (USA particularly) &
is not the original version that would have been released in China.  The God of Longevity (3 tael - 1987)
was a note worthy release in the West with this type of fabric covered box. 
But none the less it would be circa that same period in time.
IMHO

[Kirin]

Oh, as well, there were two versions.  As noted type 1 & this auction which would be type 2.
The China Mint did not like the design of the type 1 so (probably) with the design change
came the different display in a capsule, sized (to hold the 3 tael with the insert) was
part of the furnished release.  The capsule size actually is for a 5 oz. silver medal/proof.
Thanks

[Kirin]

The COA is an after market certificate as well, I believe,
actually some medals never were furnished with the
original COAs

[mmissinglink]

I find it very interesting that there is still a lot of unknowns or mysteries about the 1984/1987 Great Wall medallions. It seems like no one still knows for certain the number of medals actually released to the public (not the proposed mintage....that's very different), there's uncertainty perhaps about what presentation box this medallion was originally sold, and so forth.

The 3.3 oz Great Wall silver proof medal I purchased in the US back in the 1980's which is the type 2 was sold to me in a wooden box that fit the coin precisely and there was no capsule. A capsule would have not fit in the cut-out depression made for just the medal. My thinking is that for this auction that just ended on eBay, neither the box, the capsule, nor the COA is original.

Here's what my box looks like:  

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y6/mmissinglink/The%20Great%20Wall%20of%20China%20medal/TheGreatWallofChinamedalbox.jpg

and

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y6/mmissinglink/The%20Great%20Wall%20of%20China%20medal/TheGreatWallofChinamedalinbox.jpg


Also, as pointed out by poconopenn in an earlier posting, there seems to be several variations of the proof silver medal (not including the mis-spelled variation). poconopenn makes this assessment based on the carved seal design on the reverse side of the medal. This just adds even more mystery to this elusive medallion.

Is anyone doing any serious investigation into the Great Wall medal to try to clear up the mysteries?


.

[fwang2450]

A bronze Great Wall of the "second (1987) version" was sold not long ago, which was packed the same way as yours. No capsule, a wooden box with the characters "People's Bank of China" on it.

But it is hard to say which packaging is more authentic. Yours and the bronze medal look like gifts from People's Bank of China. It is known that gifts from that period of time were not accompanied by COAs or serial numbers. But the recent sale looks like retail packaging, with an aftermarket COA and fancy outer box. It would be interesting if more owners of this medal describe their packaging.