CHINESE
COINS & CURRENCY
All items guaranteed to
be genuine. I have over 45 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. Some of China's first coins were made to look like an
ancient knife, but lacked a sharp blade. A hole was included for easy
stringing. This style of knife coin is believed to have been minted by
the State of Yan during the Warring States Period, between about 400BC
and 220BC. Yan was located in northeast China, centered around
modern-day Beijing. It is about 5 inches (13cm) long and is
above average quality with clear characters on the reverse.
Item
CN-KNIFE CHINA, KNIFE COIN, circa
400BC-220BC VF
$75.00
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-TANG CHINA K'AI YUAN 1 CASH COIN
618-907AD
Scj. 312+ Fine-VF
$4.50
AN EXTRAORDINARY CHINESE LADY
Lady
Liu was orphaned in infancy in 969AD. By adolescence she became a
courtesan and married a silver-smith who then sold her to an official
in the prince’s palace. The 15 year old prince became
enamored with the 14 year Liu. Upon becoming emperor of China
in 997 he made her a “minor consort”. In 1010 one
of her servants gave birth to a son fathered by the emperor, whom she
adopted as her own, never telling him of his true mother. In
1012, over the objections of government officials, she was proclaimed
empress. She showed good judgement and was able to understand
and handle the affairs of state. She became the unofficial
regent after the emperor became ill in 1020. In 1022 he died
and her adopted 12-year-old son became the Emperor Ronzong.
She became the official regent, but ruled in her own name and took the
titles and prerogatives of that of the Emperor, rather than regent or
Empress. She was only the second woman in China’s long history to wear
the imperial robe. Though the regency was supposed to end in
1027 when Ronzong came of age, she refused to yield power to him until
her death in 1032. Ronzong became enraged upon finding out upon her
death that she was not his biological mother and demoted her relatives
and followers. Ronzong had long and successful reign, lasting
41 years. His many cultural and technological achievements
including the invention of movable type in 1040 (400 years before
Gutenberg), introduction of the iron plow, and the first recorded use
of gunpowder in warfare. This copper 1 cash coin bears the
reign title of Tiansheng, which means “Heavenly
Saint”. It was struck during the regency of Empress
Liu between 1023 to 1032. It is inexpensive price for an historic
coin that is 1000 years old.
Item
CN-TIANGCHINA, SONG DYNASTY, TIANGSHENG, 1023-32, Scj. 486 VG-F $7.00
UNIDENTIFIED OLD
CHINESE AND OTHER CASH COINS
We
were finally able to find more old unsorted, unidentified Chinese cash
coins. Folks have fun sorting, identifying and cataloging
them.
And
they are remarkably cheap considering their age. They are
get hard to obtain
because of the idiotic policies by our government. The U.S.
government considers Chinese cash coins to be a rare cultural item and
are thus illegal to import, even though they are available by the
millions and are sold legally and openly in China.
We
purchased some small groups from various dealers that accumulated them
for us..
Most are Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127AD), along with some
Tang
Dynasty
(618-907AD) and Qing (Ching) Dynasty (1644-1911) coins and possible a
few Korea, Annamese or Korean or others. Most grade VG to
VF. To
assist you in identifying the coins we have an identification booklet "
OLD
COINS OF CHINA"
by Holgar Jorgensen listed below. Multiple lots are
available and every lot is different.
Item
CASHx25 25 MIXED UNIDENTIFIED OLD CHINESE
CASH COINS
$35.00
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
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
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
SQUARE CHINESE 5 YUAN COMMEMORATES
TAISHAN MOUNTAIN
China
issued a square 2019 dated 5 Yuan honoring Taishan Mountain, also known
as Mount Tai. For over 3000 years the iconic mountain has
been an important aspect of Chinese culture. Emperors would
perform sacrifices and poets would find inspiration on the
mountain. It houses multiple shrines and is
associated with a number of Chinese deities. Today it is a
UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage site and a popular tourist
destination. The bronze 30mm coin depicts the Taishan
Mountain on one side and the emblem of the People's Republic of China
on the other. The design incorporates a number of anti-counterfeiting
devices, including a shifting image and a series of tiny dots hidden in
two locations in the design.
Item
CN-TAI19
CHINA 5 YUAN 2019 MOUNT TAI BU 7.50
SQUARE CHINESE 2020 5
YUAN COMMEMORATES THE WUYI MOUNTAINS
China
continued their annual series featuring UNESCO heritage sites with this
square 2020 5 Yuan honoring the Wuyi mountains.
Wuyi is a range of mountains around the border of Fujian and Jiangxi
provinces. It is noted for its spectacular scenery, many
caves, diverse plant and wildlife that includes more than 1000 rare
species as well has many historical and religious sites. One
side of the 27.2mm brass coin depicts the distinctive Yunnu hill, a
butterfly and two men on a raft on the Nine-bend River. The
other side portrays the emblem of the People's Republic of China. The
design incorporates a number of anti-counterfeiting devices, including
a shifting image and a series of tiny dots hidden in in the design.
Item
CN-WUYI CHINA 5 YUAN 2020 MOUNT WUYI BU $6.00
CHINA
2022 WORLD HERITAGE SQUARE 5 YUAN COINS
China
released two 2022 dated square brass 5 Yuan coins featuring two
UNESCO World Heritage sites. One depicts the Mount Emei and the Leshan
Giant Buddha. Mount Emei, at 10,167 feet (3,099m) is the
highest of the Four Sacred Buddhist Mountains of China. It is
the location of the first Buddhist temple built in China during the
first Century AD. Nearby is the Leshan Giant Buddha, a 233
foot (71m) carved stone statue of Buddha. In comparison the statues on
Mount Rushmore are only about 60 feet high. It was built
between 713 and 803AD and is still the largest and tallest stone Buddha
in the world. It was started by a monk who believed that the
Buddha would calm the turbulent rapids that plagued boats traveling
down the adjacent river. So much stone was removed
from the cliff face and deposited in the river that the currents were
altered, making it safe for boats. The other coin
depicts of Mount Huangshan, which means Yellow Mountain. It
is often described as the “loveliest mountain of China”, and has played
an important role in the history of art and literature in China since
the Tang Dynasty in the 8th century. Today it is a popular
tourist destination with numerous trails and walking paths.
Item
CN-5Y-SET22 CHINA SET OF 2 FIVE YUAN, MOUNT
EMEI & MOUNT HUANGSHAN, 2022 BU
$8.00
CHINESE
1 OUNCE SILVER PANDAS
Each year China issues a silver 10 Yuan coin depicting their favorite
animal: the Panda. The 40mm Brilliant Uncirculated coins are
always popular with collectors. The 2013 issue depicts three
pandas drinking from a pond. A Panda playing with a stick is on the
2014 issue. The 2015 issue depicts a Panda munching on its favorite
food; bamboo. The obverses of the coins depict the Temple of
Heaven in Beijing and the date. All three have a nominal face
value of 10 Yuan, contain 1 troy ounce of .999 fine silver and come in
a protective capsule.
Item
CN-PANDA14
CHINA 10 YUAN 2014 SILVER PANDA, PANDA WITH STICK, BU
$46.00
Item
CN-PANDA15
CHINA 10 YUAN 2015 SILVER PANDA, PANDA EATING BAMBOO, BU
$46.00
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 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
comes in a protective capsule.
Item
CN-PANDA22
CHINA 10 YUAN 2022 SILVER PANDA BU
$45.00
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
and the 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
$45.00
2024 BI-METALLIC
CHINA TIGER
& LEOPARD PARK COMMEMORATIVE
China
commemorated the Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park on
this 2024 bi-metallic 10 Yuan coin. The park was launched in 2017. It
covers 5,642 square miles (14,612 sq.km.) bordering Russia and North
Korea. The coin depicts a tiger sitting in the foreground and
a
walking leopard in the background. The emblem of China and
the date
are on the obverse of the 27mm coin.
Item
CN-10Y24-TIGER CHINA 10 YUAN 2024 TIGER
& LEOPARD PARK BU $6.00
CHINA 2025 YEAR OF THE SNAKE
COIN AND BANKNOTE
China
released a 2025
dated bi-metallic 10 Yuan coin and a colorful 2024 20 Yuan polymer
banknote to commemorate the Year of the Snake. The 27mm coin
depicts a
traditional artistic paper cutting of a snake, a palace lantern, and
plants the reverse. The denomination surrounded by an
intricate etched
design is on the obverse. The large number 10 contains latent images,
which change from Western to Chinese characters as the coin is
moved.
The 20 Yuan note features a stylized snake, the denomination in SPARK
optical and a clear window on the front. The back features
three
children hanging a Spring Festival banner in front of Shanxi residents
and legends in Chinese, Mongolian, Tibetan, Uyghur and Zhang.
Item
CN-SNAKE25 CHINA 10 YUAN 2025 YEAR OF THE
SNAKE COIN, BU
$8.00
Item
PM-CN-20Y-SNAKE CHINA 20 YUAN 2025 YEAR OF
THE SNAKE BANKNOTE, UNC.
$16.00
ALSO SEE:
AUSTRALIA 2025 YEAR OF THE SNAKE SILVER DOLLAR
MACAU
1 PATACA FEATURES HISTORIC
LIGHTHOUSE AND CHAPEL
The
Guia Lighthouse and Chapel are featured on this 1992 Macau (Macao) 1
Pataca coin. The Chapel and adjoining fort were constructed
between 1622 and 1638. The lighthouse was added in 1865 and
was the first lighthouse on the coast of China. It is visible
for some 20 miles (32km) in clear weather. The complex is a UNICEF
World Heritage site and are symbols of Macau.. Unfortunately
views of the famous lighthouse and chapel were blocked with the
construction of the Chinese Liaison Office in 2010. The obverse
includes a bat above stylized Chinese characters for Macau.
In Chinese lore bats bring the five blessings: life, wealth, health,
virtue & death after achieving one's destiny.
Item
MO-1P MACAU 1 PATACA 1992 KM57 GUIA
LIGHTHOUSE 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
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
<--
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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.
Lady
Liu was orphaned in infancy in 969AD. By adolescence she became a
courtesan and married a silver-smith who then sold her to an official
in the prince’s palace. The 15 year old prince became
enamored with the 14 year Liu. Upon becoming emperor of China
in 997 he made her a “minor consort”. In 1010 one
of her servants gave birth to a son fathered by the emperor, whom she
adopted as her own, never telling him of his true mother. In
1012, over the objections of government officials, she was proclaimed
empress. She showed good judgement and was able to understand
and handle the affairs of state. She became the unofficial
regent after the emperor became ill in 1020. In 1022 he died
and her adopted 12-year-old son became the Emperor Ronzong.
She became the official regent, but ruled in her own name and took the
titles and prerogatives of that of the Emperor, rather than regent or
Empress. She was only the second woman in China’s long history to wear
the imperial robe. Though the regency was supposed to end in
1027 when Ronzong came of age, she refused to yield power to him until
her death in 1032. Ronzong became enraged upon finding out upon her
death that she was not his biological mother and demoted her relatives
and followers. Ronzong had long and successful reign, lasting
41 years. His many cultural and technological achievements
including the invention of movable type in 1040 (400 years before
Gutenberg), introduction of the iron plow, and the first recorded use
of gunpowder in warfare. This copper 1 cash coin bears the
reign title of Tiansheng, which means “Heavenly
Saint”. It was struck during the regency of Empress
Liu between 1023 to 1032. It is inexpensive price for an historic
coin that is 1000 years old.
We
were finally able to find more old unsorted, unidentified Chinese cash
coins. Folks have fun sorting, identifying and cataloging
them.
And
they are remarkably cheap considering their age. They are
get hard to obtain
because of the idiotic policies by our government. The U.S.
government considers Chinese cash coins to be a rare cultural item and
are thus illegal to import, even though they are available by the
millions and are sold legally and openly in China.
We
purchased some small groups from various dealers that accumulated them
for us..
Most are Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127AD), along with some
Tang
Dynasty
(618-907AD) and Qing (Ching) Dynasty (1644-1911) coins and possible a
few Korea, Annamese or Korean or others. Most grade VG to
VF. To
assist you in identifying the coins we have an identification booklet "OLD
COINS OF CHINA"
by Holgar Jorgensen listed below. Multiple lots are
available and every lot is different.
OLD COINS OF
CHINA by Holger
Jorgensen
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. 
China
issued a square 2019 dated 5 Yuan honoring Taishan Mountain, also known
as Mount Tai. For over 3000 years the iconic mountain has
been an important aspect of Chinese culture. Emperors would
perform sacrifices and poets would find inspiration on the
mountain. It houses multiple shrines and is
associated with a number of Chinese deities. Today it is a
UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage site and a popular tourist
destination. The bronze 30mm coin depicts the Taishan
Mountain on one side and the emblem of the People's Republic of China
on the other. The design incorporates a number of anti-counterfeiting
devices, including a shifting image and a series of tiny dots hidden in
two locations in the design. 
China
continued their annual series featuring UNESCO heritage sites with this
square 2020 5 Yuan honoring the Wuyi mountains.
Wuyi is a range of mountains around the border of Fujian and Jiangxi
provinces. It is noted for its spectacular scenery, many
caves, diverse plant and wildlife that includes more than 1000 rare
species as well has many historical and religious sites. One
side of the 27.2mm brass coin depicts the distinctive Yunnu hill, a
butterfly and two men on a raft on the Nine-bend River. The
other side portrays the emblem of the People's Republic of China. The
design incorporates a number of anti-counterfeiting devices, including
a shifting image and a series of tiny dots hidden in in the design. 
China
released two 2022 dated square brass 5 Yuan coins featuring two
UNESCO World Heritage sites. One depicts the Mount Emei and the Leshan
Giant Buddha. Mount Emei, at 10,167 feet (3,099m) is the
highest of the Four Sacred Buddhist Mountains of China. It is
the location of the first Buddhist temple built in China during the
first Century AD. Nearby is the Leshan Giant Buddha, a 233
foot (71m) carved stone statue of Buddha. In comparison the statues on
Mount Rushmore are only about 60 feet high. It was built
between 713 and 803AD and is still the largest and tallest stone Buddha
in the world. It was started by a monk who believed that the
Buddha would calm the turbulent rapids that plagued boats traveling
down the adjacent river. So much stone was removed
from the cliff face and deposited in the river that the currents were
altered, making it safe for boats. The other coin
depicts of Mount Huangshan, which means Yellow Mountain. It
is often described as the “loveliest mountain of China”, and has played
an important role in the history of art and literature in China since
the Tang Dynasty in the 8th century. Today it is a popular
tourist destination with numerous trails and walking paths. 
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 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
comes in a protective capsule.
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
and the 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. 
China
commemorated the Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park on
this 2024 bi-metallic 10 Yuan coin. The park was launched in 2017. It
covers 5,642 square miles (14,612 sq.km.) bordering Russia and North
Korea. The coin depicts a tiger sitting in the foreground and
a
walking leopard in the background. The emblem of China and
the date
are on the obverse of the 27mm coin.
China
released a 2025
dated bi-metallic 10 Yuan coin and a colorful 2024 20 Yuan polymer
banknote to commemorate the Year of the Snake. The 27mm coin
depicts a
traditional artistic paper cutting of a snake, a palace lantern, and
plants the reverse. The denomination surrounded by an
intricate etched
design is on the obverse. The large number 10 contains latent images,
which change from Western to Chinese characters as the coin is
moved.
The 20 Yuan note features a stylized snake, the denomination in SPARK
optical and a clear window on the front. The back features
three
children hanging a Spring Festival banner in front of Shanxi residents
and legends in Chinese, Mongolian, Tibetan, Uyghur and Zhang.
The
Guia Lighthouse and Chapel are featured on this 1992 Macau (Macao) 1
Pataca coin. The Chapel and adjoining fort were constructed
between 1622 and 1638. The lighthouse was added in 1865 and
was the first lighthouse on the coast of China. It is visible
for some 20 miles (32km) in clear weather. The complex is a UNICEF
World Heritage site and are symbols of Macau.. Unfortunately
views of the famous lighthouse and chapel were blocked with the
construction of the Chinese Liaison Office in 2010. The obverse
includes a bat above stylized Chinese characters for Macau.
In Chinese lore bats bring the five blessings: life, wealth, health,
virtue & death after achieving one's destiny.
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.
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.
