PCGS Now Recognizes the Kansu (1914) Extra Stem Dollar Variety

As the world’s leading third-party coin grading company, PCGS receives a large number of coins that are sent to be certified and graded. In this process, we often identify the varieties previously unrecognized. PCGS is recently expanded its variety services to include this new variety for the Kansu (Gansu) Dollar series to better serve collectors, dealers, and the entire numismatic market.

The Kansu portrait variety of the Yuan Shih-kai Dollar belongs to the issue of a local mint in Kansu. The Kansu Mint was seeking to copy the design after the Central Mint type, which had a huge mintage that circulated across China. Coming from a smaller mint, the Kansu type of Yuan Shih-kai Dollars saw a long production run, all dated year 3 or (1914) and all with a similar bust unique to the Kansu Mint production. From the Kansu Mints coins, many collectors have found a wide range of varieties offering many collecting challenges in pursuing the Portrait of Yuan Shih-kai Dollar coins.

After decades of grading vintage Chinese coinage, PCGS still continues to add and recognize varieties previously not noted. Recently the decision to recognize the Kansu Dollar variety with an “extra stem” from die gouge on the reverse wreath was added to the register of varieties recognized by PCGS. This variety had found a very popular following by the collectors of Yuan Shih-kai Dollars and Kansu Dollar collectors. The coin is now described as “LM-63D Kan Str 民, Extra Stem,” with the PCGS number 837106.

As significant varieties are discovered or become market acceptable, PCGS will continue to offer the best service to recognize and note them for collectors and the marketplace.