How It Began: Mr Chan of Kowloon and His “Unexpected Windfall”
Last Tuesday afternoon, a slightly reserved customer came into our store. He was Mr Chan, a Kowloon resident and an ordinary office worker. While preparing to move into a new home, he had been sorting through the belongings of his late grandfather when he discovered several blackened old coins inside a battered metal biscuit tin.
Why the seller decided to sell:
Mr Chan readily admitted that he knew nothing about antiques or silver coins. What he did know was that his daughter would be leaving to study in the United Kingdom the following month. Although he had already gathered enough for her tuition, the cost of living after she arrived in a foreign country was still weighing on him. He happened to find our website while searching online for “old silver coin buyback in Hong Kong.” After some hesitation, he decided to bring in what he jokingly called his “old scrap metal” and try his luck, hoping to turn it into some extra money for his daughter’s study-abroad fund.
“I was honestly afraid to visit one of those street-side pawnshops where no prices are clearly stated. I worried that they would undervalue the coins or that I might be cheated,” Mr Chan said after sitting down, voicing a concern shared by many first-time sellers. I poured him a cup of tea and reassured him: “You can rest assured. At Gu Jin Jian Bao, openness and transparency matter to us. We will explain the history of every coin and its current market position in detail.”
A Trained Eye: Assessing the Coin
Mr Chan carefully took one of the coins out of the tissue in which it was wrapped and handed it to me. I put on white gloves, picked up a magnifying glass and examined it closely.
Based on the photographs of the actual coin provided by Mr Chan, it appeared to be a typical Republic of China Founding Commemorative One Dollar, also known in the market as a Sun Yat-sen “Memento” Dollar.
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Obverse features: A profile portrait of Dr Sun Yat-sen occupies the centre, surrounded by inscriptions meaning “Republic of China” and “Founding Commemorative Coin,” with plum-blossom motifs on both sides. The portrait retains a sense of depth and definition. Although the surface shows natural signs of circulation accumulated over time, its overall character remains well preserved.
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Reverse features: The characters meaning “One Dollar,” written in clerical script, appear at the centre and are encircled by rice sheaves. The most important identification points are the English lettering and stars around the outer edge. On this coin, a six-pointed star appears at both the two o’clock and ten o’clock positions on the reverse. Coin collectors refer to this as the “High Six-Pointed Stars” variety.
Assessment:
I explained to Mr Chan that this coin is commonly known in Chinese as the “Little Head Sun.” Its surface carries a natural aged patina—the oxidation that forms when silver is exposed to air over a long period—and it did not appear to show signs of harsh cleaning. Although there was light wear from circulation, the legends and details remained clear, the edge milling appeared even and the coin produced a clear ring. I assessed it as a genuine “High Six-Pointed Stars” variety in respectable condition.
As he listened to my analysis, Mr Chan’s tightly furrowed brow finally relaxed and a hint of delight appeared in his eyes.
Professional Comparison: Understanding the Value of Similar Coins
To give Mr Chan a clearer understanding of where his silver dollar stood in the market, I showed him our internal comparison table for similar coins:
| Coin/Variety | Key Features | Collecting Difficulty | Market Liquidity | Buyback Value Assessment |
| Sun Yat-sen Dollar (Lower Five-Pointed Stars Variety) | An early issue with five-pointed stars flanking the English lettering on the reverse and positioned lower on the coin. | Extremely high | Rare | Extremely high value and sought after by experienced collectors. |
| Sun Yat-sen Dollar (High Six-Pointed Stars Variety) | The variety held by Mr Chan. Struck in large quantities at a later stage, with six-pointed stars positioned higher on the reverse. | Relatively low | Extremely high | Moderate value, with strong market demand and the potential for a very quick sale. |
| Yuan Shikai Dollar (Year 3 of the Republic) | Features a profile portrait of Yuan Shikai and is the most commonly encountered Republic-era silver dollar on the market. | Relatively low | Extremely high | Prices vary according to condition and the specific variety, such as the O variety or Triangle Yuan. Overall, its value is similar to that of the High Six-Pointed Stars Sun Yat-sen dollar. |
| Jiangnan Province Guangxu Yuanbao | A Qing-dynasty dragon dollar with fine workmanship and numerous varieties, including Old Jiangnan and Jiachen issues. | Moderate to high | Relatively high | Its overall value is usually higher than that of an ordinary Republic-era silver dollar, but is affected greatly by condition. |
(Note: The final buyback price is confirmed according to daily fluctuations in the silver price and the physical condition of the coin.)
In the end, based on that day’s market conditions, we offered Mr Chan a total buyback price for this “Little Head Sun” and the other silver coins he had brought in, and he was very pleased with the offer. After signing the transfer agreement and receiving an immediate bank transfer, Mr Chan said happily: “Now my daughter’s rent and living expenses for her first month in the UK are covered! My grandfather’s belongings are looking after his great-granddaughter in another way. That is wonderful.”
Silver Dollar and Antique Buyback FAQ
Many customers like Mr Chan have questions when selling collections found at home. We have summarised some of the most common ones below:
Q1: How can I tell whether the old silver coins at home are valuable?
A: A silver coin’s value depends on its authenticity, variety, surviving population and condition. In general, Republic-era silver dollars bearing portraits such as Yuan Shikai or Sun Yat-sen, as well as Qing-dynasty dragon dollars, have some buyback value. We recommend sending us clear photographs of both sides. We can then provide a free preliminary online valuation.
Q2: Should I polish and clean my silver coins before selling them to you?
A: Absolutely not! This is one of the most common mistakes made by beginners. The layer of oxidation, or patina, on an old coin records the passage of time and is also an important reference when assessing authenticity. Cleaning that destroys the patina can substantially reduce both the collectible value and the buyback price of a coin. Please leave it in its original condition and let us handle it.
Q3: How does your buyback process work, and is it safe?
A: Our process is simple and transparent: send photographs for an online discussion and preliminary valuation -> make an appointment for an in-store or on-site physical inspection -> have the item assessed using professional instruments together with manual examination -> confirm the final offer -> sign an agreement and receive immediate payment in cash or by bank transfer. The entire process is open and transparent, with no pressure or forced sale.
Bringing New Value to Antiques Sitting Unused
Stories like Mr Chan’s unfold in our store every day. Whether you have inherited silver coins and dollars, old gold items that no longer suit your needs, or antiques that have been left on a shelf, they should not be allowed to languish and tarnish unnoticed in a corner. Through professional appraisal and buyback, we can help turn these witnesses to history into readily available funds.
If you have similar items that you would like to have appraised or sell, you are welcome to contact Gu Jin Jian Bao at any time. We are committed to providing you with professional service and a fair buyback offer.
Contact us:
- WhatsApp: 98342057
- WeChat: john19998
- Tel: 852-98342057
