Posted on 5/15/2017

Many of the coins from Howard Franklin Bowker Collection were graded by NGC before they were donated to the Shanghai Mint Museum

The Shanghai Mint Museum was opened in 2004 to showcase the artistry and history of Chinese coins and paper money. It occupies 600 square meters of the Shanghai Mint’s facility, which was built in 1920 with a façade modeled after the third Philadelphia Mint in the United States.

Shanghai Mint Entrance

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There are four exhibit halls in the Shanghai Mint Museum, one of which is dedicated to Howard Franklin Bowker, whose family donated priceless rarities from his world-class Chinese coin collection to the museum. Many of these coins are now on display in the newly opened gallery. Most are certified by Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC), which authenticated, graded and encapsulated the coins prior to their handover to the Shanghai Mint Museum.

The Howard Franklin Bowker Collection Exhibit Hall

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NGC was selected to certify these coins due to its previous work with the Smithsonian Institution, which conducted extensive tests on the NGC holder to ensure its suitability for long-term preservation. The Smithsonian Institution subsequently chose to use NGC holders to protect more than 300 rarities from its collection.

Like the coins in the Smithsonian Institution, the NGC-certified Howard Franklin Bowker coins in the Shanghai Mint Museum are protected for future generations by the high quality, inert NGC holder. They also benefit from the crystal-clear EdgeView display, which provides superior presentation for these important rarities.

Michael Chou, of iAsure Champion, assisted the Bowker family in their submission of these coins to NGC.

The Shanghai Mint Museum is located at 17 West Guangfu Rd, inside the Shanghai Mint. Visitors are encouraged to make an advanced reservation to view the exhibits.