Heritage Auctions' World & Ancient Coins sale on January 3-4 is billed as being its "largest" World Coin auction to date - and one of the most hotly anticipated lots in the auction is also one of the largest gold coins in the world...

A massive People's Republic 10kg (321.17 ounces) gold 100,000 Yuan 2008, KM1842, Gem struck coin originally produced to commemorate the first Olympic Games in China, the XXIX Olympiad in Beijing 2008, is going under the hammer.

The obverse features the title of PRC, the common year date "2008," a decorative design of the Chinese ancient bronze ware and the coloured emblem of the Games. The reverse features a myriad of sporting events in the foreground, with the Temple of Heaven in Beijing and dragons in the clouds.

The coin will carry a pre-auction estimate of $600,000 or more.

"This is an awe-inspiring coin," said Cristiano Bierrenbach, Vice President of International Numismatics at Heritage. "And the display case only adds to its allure.

The People's Republic 10kg (321.17 ounces) gold Gem struck coin

"Crafted from African Blackwood and finished with intricately carved Chinese ornamentation, this is a masterpiece in its own right crowned by a Chinese dragon carved from Shousan stone, the national stone of China.

"The art of Shousan stone carving traces as far back as the Ming Dynasty, when the carvings were used to create royal seals."

More than 240 consignors have placed coins in the upcoming World & Ancient Coins auction, most of which will be on display for lot viewing, December 29 and 30, at Heritage's jewelbox New York space at 445 Park Avenue (at 57th).

To further entice International coin collectors, Heritage will have highlights from the upcoming auction the Norman Jacobs Collection of Korean and Japanese Coins, the most important collection of its kind, on display at the NYINC, January 6-9, at New York's Waldorf-Astoria.