By Kwon Mee-yoo
A golden seal, believed to date back to Korea’s ancient Goguryeo kingdom (37BC-AD668), fetched an astounding HK$10.8 million (US$1.39 million) at a major Hong Kong auction. This amount surpassed its presale estimate by more than nine times, setting a record for the price of ancient seals.
The golden seal with a horse-shaped knob was auctioned at China Guardian’s Hong Kong 2025 spring sale, titled Important Private Asian Collection of Ancient Seals and Bronzes, on April 6.
Initially, its estimated price ranged between US$153,800 and US$282,100, yet it ultimately garnered a much higher final bid.
The relic, standing 2.8cm tall and weighing just 88 grams, bears a Chinese inscription that reads, “Marquis of Guiyi of Goguryeo, conferred by the Jin dynasty”.
According to Park Dae-jae, a professor of Korean history at Korea University, this wording indicates that the Jin dynasty of China probably used the bestowal of official seals as a diplomatic strategy to win over or solidify ties with neighbouring states such as Goguryeo, offering insight into the political and diplomatic dynamics of early East Asia.
