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.
FIRST
UNIFIED CURRENCY OF ANCIENT CHINA

The
Ban Liang (Pan Liang) was the first unified currency of
China. It was a cast round uniface copper coin with a square
hole with the two characters "Ban 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-BAN CHINA, BAN LIANG COIN 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
ONLY
COIN OF THE SHORT-LIVED SUI DYNASTY OF CHINA

The
Sui Dynasty lasted only 37 years, from 581 to 618AD, yet led a major
transition in China’s history. The dynasty united China for
the first time after four centuries of division and strife.
Buddhism was encouraged and Confucian rituals reintroduced. Major
construction projects were undertaken, including upgrades to the Great
Wall and construction of the Grand Canal which is still in use
today. The canal connected northern and southern China
together with the inland capitals of the dynasty. Major
reforms were implemented, redistribution of farm lands, including
making the penal code and administrative rules fairer, more lenient and
simpler, taxation reform, and a major coinage reform. A new,
well made, broad-rimmed Wu Chu coin with distinct characters was
introduced. The Dynasty conquered northern Vietnam and made a
disastrous attempt to conquer Korea. Large numbers of
conscripts were needed for the construction projects and to fight wars,
leading to a shortage of agricultural workers. The
heavy taxation and compulsory labor duties needed for the ambitious
wars and construction projects led to widespread revolts and the
dynasty was overthrown in 618AD.
Item
CN-SUI CHINA, SUI DYNASTY WU CH'U 581-618AD VF
$12.00
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-VF
$4.50
Item
CN-KAIx10 10 PIECES OF CHINA K'AI YUAN 1 CASH
COIN 618-907AD Fine-VF
$25.00
Item
CN-KAIx25 25 PIECES OF CHINA K'AI YUAN 1
CASH
COIN 618-907AD Fine-VF
$49.50
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
CHINA
- HUPEH PROVINCE MACHINE STRUCK 1 CASH COIN

This
small, undated, copper 1 Cash coin was struck in Hupeh Province of
China in 1906. The machine struck coins was intended to
replace the cast square-holed cash that were in circulation, however
its diminutive size (16.6mm) made it unpopular, resulting in most being
melted down. Not only were they incoveniently small and easily lost,
Chinese could see they contained substantaially less metal than the
traditional square-holed cash coin. It was struck under the
authority of Emperor Kuang-hsu (Guangxu). One side features the Chinese
imperial dragon and legends in English. The other side has
legends in Chinese. The coin shows virtually no wear, though tends to
have minor mint errors and verdigris spots.
Item
CN-HUPEH-1C CHINA, HUPEH PROVINCE 1 CASH
(1906) Y121 XF-spots
$40.00
THE BANK OF CHINA'S
CURSED BUILDING
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.
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
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
JAPANESE
MILITARY CURRENCY
FOR CHINA
Japan issued Military Currency starting in 1938 for use in
the areas of China that they occupied. Because civilians were forced to
accept the Military Yen, which was not backed and could not be
exchanged into Japanese Yen, it cost the Japanese government virtually
nothing to purchase whatever they wanted. This 5 Yen note
used a
modified version of the homeland 5 Yen note. The note lacked
the
text that translated as "Bank of Japan Convertible Silver Note".
Instead it had a bright red 4 character overprint that
translates
as "Military Note".
Item
PM-CN-5Y-OVPT2 5 YEN JAPANESE MILITARY NOTE
FOR
CHINA ON MODIFIED JAPANESE NOTE PM25 F
$3.00
RARE
CHINESE BIRD AND BUTTERFLY COINS
These Chinese bronze 5 Yuan coins depict native
endangered wildlife. The 1997 coin depicts a Red-crowned
Crane. In Chinese mythology they carry immortals between heaven and
earth. The birds mate for life, which can range from 30 to 50
years. The birds are about 5 feet (150cm)
tall. The 1998 coin features a Brown-eared
Pheasant (Crossoptilon mantchuricum). The bird is
about
39 inches (100cm) tall and is endemic to the mountain forests of
north-eastern China. The 1999 coin depicts a Swallowtail
Butterfly. The bronze coins are 32mm in diameter.
The obverses include the date and the national emblem of
China which
features the entrance gate to the Forbidden City,
Item
CN-CRANE97
CHINA 5 YUAN 1997 RED-CROWNED CRANE, KM981
UNC. $12.00
Item
CN-PHEASANT98
CHINA 5 YUAN 1998 BROWN-EARED PHEASANT KM1123
UNC. $12.00
Item
CN-BUTTERFLY99
CHINA 5 YUAN 1999 SWALLOWTAIL BUTTERFLY
KM1213 UNC. $12.00
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
CHINA CELEBRATES
YEAR OF THE
TIGER

China
commemorated the Year of the Tiger with this attractive 27mm
bi-metallic 2022 dated 10 Yuan coin. The reverse depicts a traditional
artistic paper-cutting of a tiger, a palace lantern and tree
branches. The obverse features the denomination surrounded by
an intricate etched floral design. The large number 10 contains latent
images which change from "R M B" to "10 10 10" when the coin is moved.
The design also features micro-letters and other anti-counterfeiting
devices.
Item
CN-TIGER22
CHINA 10 YUAN 2022 YEAR OF THE TIGER, BI-METALLIC BU
$8.00
ALSO SEE:
FRANCE 1/4 EURO 2022 YEAR OF THE TIGER
CHINA CELEBRATES YEAR OF THE
RABBIT

China
commemorated the Year of
the rabbit with this attractive 27mm bi-metallic 2023 dated 10 Yuan
coin. The reverse depicts a cute artistic paper-cutting of a rabbit, a
palace lantern and tree branches. The obverse features the
denomination surrounded by an intricate etched floral design. The large
number 10 contains latent images which change from "R M B" to "10 10
10" when the coin is moved. The design also features micro-letters and
other anti-counterfeiting devices. Also available
are some previous
issues in this series.
Item
CN-RABBIT
CHINA 10 YUAN 2023 YEAR OF THE RABBIT, BI-METALLIC BU
$8.00
ALSO SEE:
2023 AUSTRALIA PERTH MINT YEAR OF THE RABBIT 1 TROY OUNCE SILVER DOLLAR
2022
CHINESE SILVER
PANDA

The
2022 Chinese Silver Panda features two young pandas playing in the
snow. Next to them is a privy mark featuring the
numeral 40
and the head of a panda. 2022 is the 40th anniversary of this
popular series of coins. The coin was designed by Chinese coin designer
Huang Qin. The obverse includes the date,
denomination and
the Temple of Heaven in Beijing. 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-PANDA22
CHINA 10 YUAN 2022 SILVER PANDA BU
$43.00
2023
CHINESE SILVER PANDA

China
continues their popular annual silver Panda coin series with this
2023 issue depicting two young pandas playing in a tree. They
are facing each other, one in the tree and one below, extending their
paws as if one is offering the other a “hand” up in the tree.
The coin was designed by China Mint's coin designer Tong Fang, who
designed many of the previous coins in the acclaimed Panda
series. The obverse features the Temple of Heaven in Beijing,
the denomination and date. The Brilliant Uncirculated 40mm
coin has a nominal face value of 10 Yuan, contain 30 grams of .999 fine
silver and comes in a protective capsule.
Item
CN-PANDA23
CHINA 10 YUAN 2023 SILVER PANDA BU
$40.00
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
CHINA 2022
OLYMPIC BANKNOTES 
China released two circulating vertical 20 Yuan banknotes to
commemorate the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. A polymer note
depicts a pair of figure skaters on one side and a skating pavilion on
the other. A paper note depicts a free style skier on the
front. The unusual Olympic ski jump ramp and the Great Wall
of China are on the back. Both notes incorporate the emblems
of the Beijing Winter Olympics the People's Republic of China on the
front.
Item
PM-CN-OLY20Y SET OF 2 CHINA 2022 OLYMPIC 20
YUAN BANKNOTES, UNC. $18.00
MACAU BI-METALLIC
COIN DEPICTS
HISTORIC CHURCH

This bi-metallic 1997 Macau 10 Pataca
coin was one of the last coins issued for Macao while it was under
Portuguese rule. China took control of Macau in 1999. At the
top of the obverse is a small bat. In Chinese lore bats bring
the five blessings: life, wealth, health, virtue and death after
achieving one's destiny. The reverse pictures St.
Dominic's Church. The church was built in 1587 by Spanish
missionaries and reconstructed in the early 17th century. The
church closed down in 1834. In 1997 it was renovated,
reopened and a museum added alongside the church.
Item
MO-10P MACAU 10 PATACA 1997 KM83
UNC. $5.00
TAIWAN
CELEBRATES
LIBERATION FROM JAPAN

After
several unsuccessful attempts to gain control of Taiwan (Formosa),
Japan took the island from China in 1895 as a result of China's defeat
in the First Sino-Japanese War. Upon Japan's defeat in 1945
in World War II, China regained control of Taiwan. In 1995
the Republic of China, (now commonly called Taiwan), commemorated the
50th Anniversary of its liberation from Japan. The 26mm
copper-nickel 10 Yuan coin features a map of Taiwan and the dates 1945
1995.
Item
TAIWAN-LIB TAIWAN 10 YUAN 1995
LIBERATION Y555 UNC. $3.50
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
AG-G $5.00
Item
MAN-1F MANCHUKUO 1 FEN 1945 Y13a
AG-G $5.00
OLD
COIN FROM FAR OFF TIBET

Tibet is a fabled and
isolated country located
high in the Himalayas that is now controlled by China. This copper 1
Sho coin was issued from 1918 to 1928. It features a snow
lion on one side and inscriptions on the other. The
Snow Lion is a mythological animal that represents cheerfulness and
clarity of thought.
Item
TIB-SHO TIBET 1 SHO 1918-1928
Y21variety F-VF $5.00
Item
TIB-SHOx10 10 pieces of TIBET 1 SHO
1918-1928 F-VF $39.75
SUN AND MOON TIBETAN
COINS
These copper 5 Sho coins were some of the last coins minted by Tibet
before they were invaded by China. The coin features a Snow
Lion standing in front of the mountains on one side and inscriptions on
the other. The coin comes in two major
varieties. The first, dating 1947 to 1949 features two suns,
one on either side of the tallest mountain. The second,
dating 1950 to 1953 shows a moon and the sun next to the
mountain. Both are a reminder of this fabled and isolated
nation located high in the Himalayas.
Item
TIB-5S-SS TIBET 5 SHO 1947-49, 2 SUNS, Y28.1
F-VF out
Item
TIB-5S-MS TIBET 5 SHO 1950-53, MOON &
SUN, Y28a F-VF
$12.00
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