CHINESE
COINS & CURRENCY
All items guaranteed to
be genuine. I have over 40 years experience with Chinese
coins and buy only from reliable suppliers in the United States.
ANCIENT
CHINESE KNIFE COIN 
Knives were a common barter item in ancient China, but a bit
hazardous
to carry around to trade. Some of China's first coins were made to look
like a knife, so that people would think of them as money, but they
lacked a sharp blade. A hole was included for easy stringing. This
knife coin is called the "Ming" after the city where it was made (not
the dynasty that was much later). It dates from about 400BC to
225BC and was widely used in northeastern China. It
is made of bronze and is about 5 inches (13cm.)
long.
Item
CN-KNIFE CHINA, MING TYPE KNIFE COIN, Circa
400BC - 225BC VG-Fine
$55.00
EARLY
ANCIENT CHINESE COIN
The
Pan Liang (Ban Liang) was the first unified currency of
China. It was a cast round uniface copper coin with a square
hole with the two characters "Pan Liang", which roughly translates as
"half ounce" The coin was introduced about 210BC with a
weight of 12 Shu. About 175BC it was officially reduced to 4 Shu, then
later to 3 Shu. The basic design of a round, cast coin with a
square hole became the standard that China continued to use for over
2000 years! Considering its age, it is a remarkably
inexpensive coin.
Item
CN-PAN CHINA, PAN LIANG 175-118BC
(Scj. 107+) Fine
$12.50
THE
REMARKABLE WU-CH'U COIN
In
118BC Emperor Yuan-shou withdrew the
Pan-Liang
coin and introduced a new coin, called the Wu Ch'u (Wu Zhu) worth 5
Shu. Unlike the earlier Pan Liang coins it had a raised rim
to prevent filing. The coin proved quite popular, and except
for the Wang Mang interregnum, it continued to be issued in various
versions for the next six centuries! Now that is significant
monetary stability.
Item
CN-WU CHINA WU-CH'U COIN 118BC -
circa 500AD (Scj.114+) F-VF
$7.00
THE DISASTROUS REIGN OF WANG MANG
Wang
Mang arranged to have himself appointed regent for the young Han
Emperor in 7AD. Two years later he killed the boy and usurped the
throne. He attempted major reforms of China's economy, many
of which were attempted by the communists in the 1950's, These
included the abolition of slavery, introduction of an income
tax,
redistribution of the land, institution of price controls, and
confiscation of gold. He demonetized existing coins and
instituted new ones based on an unbacked fiat coinage. Despite the
execution and exile of thousands, the reforms were not accepted. The
economy collapsed; there were widespread general strikes and massive
starvation. In 23AD Wang was slain, his "reforms" were abolished and
the Han dynasty restored. We offer the following two unusual coins
issued by Wang Mang: The first is a Ta Ch'ien Wu Shih coin, which he
introduced in 7AD. Though only slightly heavier
than the old Wu Ch'u coins, it was worth 50 Wu Ch'u. As might
be expected the merchants did not take too kindly to this new
coin. In 14AD the value of the Ta Chi'en Wu Shih coin was
reduced in value from 50 Cash to 1 Cash. The same year he
introduced a new coin, called a Hou Ch'uan.. The coin remained in use
until after his death, when the Wu Ch’u was restored as the standard
circulating coin of China.
Item
CN-TA-CH'IEN CHINA WANG MANG 50 CASH COIN (TA
CH'IEN WU SHIH) 7-14AD Scj.120+ VF
$12.00
Item
CN-HOU-CHUAN
CHINA WANG MANG HOU CH'UAN COIN 14-23AD
Scj.149+ Fine
$7.50
FAMOUS
K'AI YUAN COIN OF THE TANG
DYNASTY
The
K'ai Yuan coin was introduced by Chinese Emperor Kao Tsu, who founded
the Tang Dyansty in 618AD. The coins replaced the previously
used Wu-Chu and other coins. The high quality of the coins
and excellent calligraphy set a standard for Chinese coins for the next
1000 years! The legend on the coin, K'ai Yuan Tung
Pao translates as "precious currency of the K'ai Yuan
era". The Tang Dynasty was a brilliant period in
Chinese history. It was an era of great prosperity and
artistry. The K'ai Yuan coin continued to be issued
for the next 300 years, until the collapse of the Dynasty in
907AD. During much of the dynasty the coin was the
only denomination struck. Because of the relatively low value
of the coin and the high level of commerce a LOT of the coins were
issued during that period. (Think of doing all your transactions with
only pennies!) As a result the coin, though over
1000 years old, is still plentiful and inexpensive.
Item
CN-KAI CHINA K'AI YUAN 1 CASH COIN
618-907AD Scj. 312+ Fine
$4.50
OLD COINS OF
CHINA by Holger
Jorgensen
A
small but complete identification guide book for Chinese cash coins
from
600BC
to 1912AD. Best book if you just want to identify Chinese cash
coins
by
emperor and date without going into varieties. Features line drawings
of
coins with reign title and reign dates, but not much further
information. Reprint. 26
pages
and plates. 5.5" x 8.5", softcover.
Item
BK-Jorgensen Book: OLD COINS OF CHINA by
Holger Jorgensen
$6.00
OLD CHINESE LOTTERY LOAN BOND
The Republic of China issued this 5 Dollar Second Nationalist
Government Lottery Loan bond in 1926 to raise money to finance
improvements in the Port of Whampoa in Canton, (now Pazou, a section of
Guangzhou). Rather than pay interest the bonds were
automatically entered into a tri-monthly lottery that paid prizes from
$1,000 to $50,000. This made the bonds popular with the Chinese, who
are natural gamblers. The front of the bond is in Chinese,
the reverse in English. Both the front and back are
underprinted with a map of the port. The bonds specify that they are
denominated as "5 Dollars Canton Currency". At the
time the bond was issued China was involved in a three-way civil war
between Northern China, Southern China and the Communists, each issuing
its own currency, so it was necessary to specify which exactly Chinese
currency. The bond measures about 7 1/4" x 5" (18cm
x 13cm).
Item
BND-CN26-5D CHINA 5
DOLLARS 1926 LOTTERY LOAN BOND, VF-XF
$10.00
1938 CHINESE WAR
BONDS DEPICTS AIR AND SEA BATTLES
These 1938 Chinese War bonds include two wonderful vignettes.
One showing an aerial dogfight, the other depicting costal gun
emplacements blasting ships offshore. The bonds were issued
by Kwangtung Province of China in March 1938 to raise funds in a
desperate attempt to stop the Japanese invasion of China. By
the time the bonds were issued, Japan had already begun an naval and
aerial blockade of Canton (now Guangzhou), the capital of Kwangtung
Province (now Guangzhou). Beijing, Shanghai and the national
capital of Nanjing had already fallen to the Japanese. The
bonds were issued in low denominations in order to allow most Chinese
to purchase them. The defense of Canton failed and the city
fell to the Japanese in December 1938. The bonds are labeled in Chinese
"
27th year Kwangtung
Province National Defense Public Bond" and paid a
4% interest. Only the first three coupons on each bond have
been clipped. The bonds measure approximately 10.5"x12.5"
(26x31.5cm) The 5
Dollar bonds are blue, the 10 Dollar bonds are brown. It is
an important item issued during the Japanese invasion of China.
Item
BND-CN39-$5 KWANGTUNG CHINA, 1938 $5 DEFENSE
BOND, XF $39.95
Item
BND-CN39-$10 KWANGTUNG CHINA, 1938 $10
DEFENSE
BOND, XF out
HISTORIC BANK OF CHINA
CURRENCY
The Bank of China is the oldest and one of the largest banks in
China. It was founded in
1905 and was named Bank of China in 1912. It was one of four major note
issuing banks for the Republic of China. It currently issues
banknotes for both Hong Kong and Macao. It is one of the only banks
in the world to issue currency for three different realms.
THE BANK OF CHINA'S
CURSED BUILDING
In 1930 The Bank of China began to construct a new 34-story
headquarters on the Bund in Shanghai. It was built on
property that had been confiscated from
the Germans during World War I. Perhaps a departing German cursed the
property. It was to be the highest building in the
Far East. However, Britisher Victor Sassoon, the owner of the Sassoon
House (now Fairmont Peace Hotel) located next door, demanded that no
building be higher than his. The municipal government, under
British control, limited the height of the bank building giving it a
chopped off appearance. In 1937 the building was topped out
at a height of 15 stories and the bank issued new banknotes to mark the
occasion. The back of the notes depict the Bank of China
building along with a partial image of the Sasson House on the left and
the
Yokohama Specie Bank the right.. The front depicts Sun Yat Sen and have
a watermark of the Temple of Heaven. Unfortunately, the war
with Japan broke out the same year which delayed the completion and
move into the building. The bank was not able to
move into the building until 1946. In 1949 the bank was nationalized by
the Chinese communists. The notes were printed by
Thomas De La Rue in London.
Item
PM-CN-BOC37 BANK OF CHINA 5 & 10
YUAN NOTES 1937 P80 & P81 XF
$5.00
BANK OF CHINA
CURRENCY FOR HONG KONG AND MACAU
After World War II most of the Bank of China was nationalized by the
People's Republic of China, which operates it as a government owned
commercial bank. Ahead of China's takeover of Hong Kong and Macau,
China insisted that the Bank of China be allowed to issue banknotes for
both territories. It is one of three banks that issues currency for
Hong Kong and one of two banks issuing currency for Macau. This 2015 Bank of China 20 Dollar note for
Hong Kong note depicts Bauhinia flowers and the Bank of
China Tower in Hong Kong on the front. The distinctive
building was designed by I. M. Pei and was the tallest building in Hong
Kong when it opened in 1990. The back of the note portrays
the shore of Repulse Bay. The note includes braille to assist
the blind and many security devices including, microprinting,
watermark, security thread, SPARK (an optically variable magnetic ink)
and iridescent ink. The Bank
of China Macau 10 Pataca note dated 2008 features
the A-Ma
temple on the front. Built in 1488, the temple is one of the
oldest in Macau and thought to be the settlement's namesake. The back
depicts the Bank of China Building in Macau. It is the second
highest building in Macau. The bank's name is in Portuguese
"Banco da China"
Item
PM-HK-BOC20-15 BANK OF CHINA HONG KONG 20
DOLLARS NOTE
2015 P341e UNC. out
Item
PM-MO-BOC10-08 BANK OF CHINA MACAU 10 PATACAS
NOTE
2008 P108 UNC. $6.00
WORLD WAR II CHINESE BANKNOTES
These 10 and 20 Cent notes were issued by the Central Bank of China in
1940. The notes were necessary due to a coin shortage caused
by World War II. The front is in Chinese and depicts Sun Yat
Sen. The back is in English. The 10 Cents is 116 x 58 mm, the
20 Cents is 124 x 62mm The notes were printed by the Chung Hwa Book Co.
Ltd. of Shanghai.
Item
PM-CBC-SET40 CENTRAL BANK OF CHINA 10 & 20 CENTS NOTES, 1940 P226-227 UNC. $15.00
UNUSUAL FIBER
COINS FROM WWII JAPANESE OCCUPATION OF CHINA
Manchukuo was a Japanese puppet state carved out of Northeastern China
prior to World War II. Due to a severe metal shortage towards
the end of the war, it issued these unusual 1 Fen and 5 Fen coins
struck in a thick, red material rather than metal. The coins are dated
in the year of the reign of Emperor Kang Te of
Manchukuo. Kang Te was formerly known as Pu Yi, who
was the last Emperor of China until he was deposed in 1911. The
Japanese used him as the figurehead leader for Manchukuo. The
1 Fen struck only a single year; 1945. The 5 Fen was struck
in 1944 and 1945. Because the material used was relatively
soft, the
coins show considerable wear. These historic World War II coins are
some of the few circulating non-metallic coins of the 20th century.
Item
MAN-5F MANCHUKUO 5 FEN 1944-45 YA13a
G-VG $7.00
Item
MAN-1F MANCHUKUO 1 FEN 1945 Y13a
G-VG $7.00
CHINA CELEBRATES
HIGH SPEED RAIL
China
has the world's longest and most extensive high speed rail
network, covering almost 17,000 miles (27,000 km.). China
issued this 2018 dated 27mm bi-metallic 10 Yuan to commemorate the
nation's high speed rail network. The reverse of the coin
depicts a "Fuxing" high-speed train, Dashengguan Yangtze River Bridge
and the Beijing South Railway Station. The Fuxing trains run
at speeds of 155 to 215 mph (250 to 350 km/h). The obverse
features the arms of the People's Republic of China and the date.
Item
CN-RAIL18 CHINA 10 YUAN 2018 HIGH SPEED RAIL,
BI-METAL BU
$7.00
NEW 2019 CIRCULATING COINS OF CHINA
The People's Republic of China recently released new versions of the 1
and 5 Jiao and 1 Yuan coins with updated designs. All three coins
continue to feature flowers on the reverse. The size of the 1
Yuan is reduced from 25mm to 22.5mm. The numeral "1"
incorporates latent image of “¥” and “1”. The
coin has a lettered edge with "RMB"
repeated three times. The
metallic content of the 5 Jiao is changed to nickel-plated steel, the
typeface of the denomination revised and the orchid blossoms on the
reverse scaled down. The numeral on the 1 Jiao was also
revised and the orchid on the reverse scaled
down.
Item
CN-SET19
CHINA 3 COIN SET, 1 JIAO - 1 YUAN 2019, UNC. $3.00
MULTI-LINGUAL NOTE OF CHINA FEATURES
POTALA
PALACE IN TIBET
Mao Zedong is featured on the front of this 2005 dated 50 Yuan note
from China. The 170 x 50m note also includes a watermark of
Mao. The back depicts the Potala Palace in Lhasa in Tibet. It
was the winter palace of the Dalai Lamas and the seat of the Tibet
government from 1649 to 1959. It has been a museum since then and is a
World Heritage Site. The 13-story building contains over 1000
rooms, 10,000 shrines and about 200,000 statues. Also on the
back is the denomination written out in Mandarin Pinyin, Mongol,
Tibetan, Uighur and Zhuang as well as English.
Item
PM-CN-50Y CHINA 50 YUAN NOTE 2005 P906 UNC. $15.00
2020
& 2021 CHINESE SILVER PANDA
Because of a 25% tariff imposed on Chinese imports by
President Trump,
few 2020 and 2021 China silver Pandas have been imported and the cost
of them is substantially higher. We managed to get a few of
these popular coins. The 2020 issue features a cute baby
panda munching on bamboo. The 2021 issue features a momma
panda watching her young baby panda climb a tree. Both coins
feature the date, denomination and the Temple of Heaven in Beijing on
the obverse. The Brilliant Uncirculated 40mm coins have a
nominal face value of 10 Yuan, contain 30 grams of .999 fine silver and
come in a protective capsule.
Item
CN-PANDA20
CHINA 10 YUAN 2020 SILVER PANDA BU $47.00
Item
CN-PANDA21
CHINA 10 YUAN 2021 SILVER PANDA BU $43.00
Also see:
COINS OF TIBET
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In
118BC Emperor Yuan-shou withdrew the Pan-Liang
coin and introduced a new coin, called the Wu Ch'u (Wu Zhu) worth 5
Shu. Unlike the earlier Pan Liang coins it had a raised rim
to prevent filing. The coin proved quite popular, and except
for the Wang Mang interregnum, it continued to be issued in various
versions for the next six centuries! Now that is significant
monetary stability.
Wang
Mang arranged to have himself appointed regent for the young Han
Emperor in 7AD. Two years later he killed the boy and usurped the
throne. He attempted major reforms of China's economy, many
of which were attempted by the communists in the 1950's, These
included the abolition of slavery, introduction of an income
tax,
redistribution of the land, institution of price controls, and
confiscation of gold. He demonetized existing coins and
instituted new ones based on an unbacked fiat coinage. Despite the
execution and exile of thousands, the reforms were not accepted. The
economy collapsed; there were widespread general strikes and massive
starvation. In 23AD Wang was slain, his "reforms" were abolished and
the Han dynasty restored. We offer the following two unusual coins
issued by Wang Mang: The first is a Ta Ch'ien Wu Shih coin, which he
introduced in 7AD. Though only slightly heavier
than the old Wu Ch'u coins, it was worth 50 Wu Ch'u. As might
be expected the merchants did not take too kindly to this new
coin. In 14AD the value of the Ta Chi'en Wu Shih coin was
reduced in value from 50 Cash to 1 Cash. The same year he
introduced a new coin, called a Hou Ch'uan.. The coin remained in use
until after his death, when the Wu Ch’u was restored as the standard
circulating coin of China.
The
K'ai Yuan coin was introduced by Chinese Emperor Kao Tsu, who founded
the Tang Dyansty in 618AD. The coins replaced the previously
used Wu-Chu and other coins. The high quality of the coins
and excellent calligraphy set a standard for Chinese coins for the next
1000 years! The legend on the coin, K'ai Yuan Tung
Pao translates as "precious currency of the K'ai Yuan
era". The Tang Dynasty was a brilliant period in
Chinese history. It was an era of great prosperity and
artistry. The K'ai Yuan coin continued to be issued
for the next 300 years, until the collapse of the Dynasty in
907AD. During much of the dynasty the coin was the
only denomination struck. Because of the relatively low value
of the coin and the high level of commerce a LOT of the coins were
issued during that period. (Think of doing all your transactions with
only pennies!) As a result the coin, though over
1000 years old, is still plentiful and inexpensive.
OLD COINS OF
CHINA by Holger
Jorgensen
China
has the world's longest and most extensive high speed rail
network, covering almost 17,000 miles (27,000 km.). China
issued this 2018 dated 27mm bi-metallic 10 Yuan to commemorate the
nation's high speed rail network. The reverse of the coin
depicts a "Fuxing" high-speed train, Dashengguan Yangtze River Bridge
and the Beijing South Railway Station. The Fuxing trains run
at speeds of 155 to 215 mph (250 to 350 km/h). The obverse
features the arms of the People's Republic of China and the date.
