Reborn As Super Heiress

Chapter 1540: Chapter 1524: A Rare Treasure?

”The Jin Kui Zhi Wan stored at the Huaxia Historical Museum has a patina of blue and yellow, with dark red rust spots, and traces of copper flow at the edges, making its condition truly exquisite.”

”Based on the information we currently have, the countable National Treasure Jin Kui Zhi Wan amounts to just two and a half pieces. Since only one remains in the country, it is considered a unique item and can be described as an extremely precious and rare treasure.”

As Zhuang Xiangyang spoke, his gaze was fixed on the two coins before him, and the eagerness in his eyes was utterly unconcealable.

Huo Sining wasn’t particularly clear about the National Treasure Jin Kui, but encountering Zhuang Xiangyang, who happened to be an expert in miscellaneous items, she naturally had to inquire thoroughly.

”Old Zhuang, I read in a book that this National Treasure Jin Kui might be a grade-one gold coin. Is that true?”

Zhuang Xiangyang paused for a moment, before slowly opening: ”A grade-one gold coin is indeed recorded in historical texts. After Wang Mang established his state, he implemented a treasure currency system. The so-called treasure currency system divided currency into five materials, six names, and twenty-eight grades.”

”The five materials are gold, silver, bronze, turtle, and shell. The six names are gold coin, silver currency, turtle currency, shell currency, cloth, and spring. The twenty-eight grades include six grades of spring currency, one grade of gold coin, two grades of silver coin, four grades of turtle treasure, five grades of shell currency, and ten grades of cloth currency.”

”The grade-one gold coin is a name heard of but unseen, so many historians believe that the National Treasure Jin Kui is very likely to be the grade-one gold coin of that time.”

Tang Jun, who had obviously researched the ”grade-one gold coin” recently, couldn’t help but comment upon hearing Zhuang Xiangyang’s words:

”Wang Mang may have been skilled in warfare, but he wasn’t very smart economically. During his brief fifteen-year usurpation, he initiated four currency reforms, issuing three large denominations: ’Daquan Wushi,’ ’Qidao Wubai,’ and ’Yidao Pingwuqian.’ He even announced that marquis and below were forbidden to carry gold, which was to be pooled for the state, leading to inflation, currency devaluation, public chaos, and ultimately, the dynasty’s downfall.”

Tang Jun, a businessman, offered a sharper view on economic matters, yet his comments received agreement from several others.

During Wang Mang’s reign, he attempted to use currency reform to escape a severe societal crisis, which was misguided from the start. The currency reform gravely impacted social economic life and the flow of goods, and instead sped up the Xin Dynasty’s collapse.

”While what you say is true, the artistic value of Wang Mang’s era coins was incredibly high. The quality of the bronze was excellent, the casting meticulous, the characters neat, and the style delicate. Some even had gold inlays, and in terms of ancient coin aesthetics, they could be considered masterpieces. I have a ’Yidao Pingwushi’ myself, and in terms of text, smelting, or design, it can be called unparalleled,” Zhuang Xiangyang laughed.

Liao Song and Zhong Zifan, having only a superficial understanding of these matters, listened with partial comprehension but maintained their curiosity about the two coins in the box and asked, ”Professor Zhuang, are these coins very valuable?”

Zhuang Xiangyang laughed: ”The National Treasure Jin Kui is considered the top tier of ancient coin collections. Its value is incalculable because once any ordinary antique becomes a unique item, it essentially becomes priceless.”

”Moreover, this object is more special than others. Phrases like ’priceless treasure’ or ’worth a fortune’ are empty because it hasn’t circulated in the market, and there’s no precedent to reference for its value.”

”Regarding market value, antiques with limited existing quantities that aren’t numerous can have clearer price tags marked. Hence, estimating the value of these items must follow market rules and collectors’ psychology—it’s a scholarly pursuit that requires careful thought in the antique collection circle.”

”Yet, even a rare unique item, a coin isn’t like porcelain or paintings and calligraphy. In my estimation, a single National Treasure Jin Kui coin, if auctioned, might at most fetch twenty million.”

Though Zhuang Xiangyang couldn’t rival Zhou Shitao in authority, he was still a veteran in the circle. His grasp on industry information was precise, and his words were essentially factual.

Liao Song, at the side, couldn’t help but show envy upon hearing this: ”Twenty million each, that’s forty million for two. That’s quite a windfall indeed. No wonder you’re recently glowing with pride. Turns out you’ve had some lucky stroke. So, tell me, where did you acquire these pieces?”

Liao Song’s question was rather impertinent. Generally, within the circle, one wouldn’t ask such direct questions. For those who cared about decorum, they might directly scold someone for not knowing the rules.

Nevertheless, Tang Jun seemed to have a good relationship with Liao Song, and given his current good mood, he wasn’t upset upon hearing Liao Song’s question. He laughed:

”Had it not been you asking, I might have scolded you. I acquired this in a village in the Gan-Shaanxi area not long ago. Initially, I intended to check out a bronze ding, but unexpectedly, I had an unexpected gain.”

While Tang Jun didn’t hide anything, he was mindful of the fact these people were still outsiders and thus did not detail specifics.

Liao Song, being perceptive, didn’t press further and only curiously asked: ”How much did you pay for the two coins?”

A glint of smugness immediately flashed in Tang Jun’s eyes. He curled his lips into a slight smile and held up three fingers.

”Three million?” Liao Song exclaimed in amazement, ”Then you’ve truly struck a massive deal!”

Tang Jun’s expression was full of exuberance, and it was evident he felt his investment was well worth it. Spending three million to buy it and then selling it for over ten times more was quite a bargain.

From the moment Huo Sining asked the ”grade-one gold coin” question, she had remained silent. Though Liao Song hadn’t noticed this earlier, he now sensed something was amiss and instinctively looked over at Huo Sining, only to catch a glimpse of doubt and strangeness flashing across her face.

Liao Song immediately felt puzzled: ”Miss Huo, what’s the matter?”

As the question was posed, everyone in the room turned their attention towards Huo Sining.

Tang Jun’s smile also subtly faded as his gaze flickered towards Huo Sining.

Her face was shrouded in doubt; she hesitated several times before finally looking at Zhuang Xiangyang and asking: ”Professor Zhuang, do you think these coins are authentic?”

Zhuang Xiangyang paused, then looked down at the coins again with a frown: ”Though I haven’t personally touched them, I think eight or nine chances out of ten, they’re real. Why? Do you have a different opinion?”

Huo Sining instinctively glanced at Tang Jun. However, Tang Jun was not one to be petty. Knowing that Huo Sining wouldn’t say something without reason, he quickly said:

”Miss Huo, if you have any thoughts, just voice them. None of the people present are outsiders. Since I brought you here, I trust each of you fully, so you don’t need to have any reservations.”