Chapter Two: A Million Is Not the Finish Line

“That is where frauds hide the truth.” “You won tonight. The coin will still be reclaimed, and you will own nothing.” “Not necessarily.” The coin was transferred to the municipal industrial group that had inherited the old factory’s rights. Shen voluntarily returned it, receiving a refund of his twenty yuan and a statutory reward for identifying major cultural property. Su’s appraisal confirmed the coin as the only known trial variety. The industrial group scheduled an emergency public auction and awarded ten percent of the sale price to the finder who had supplied the evidentiary chain. At ten the next morning, three leading numismatic institutions joined the online sale. Hammer price: 11.8 million yuan.