In the 1980s and 1990s, the People’s Republic of China began issuing commemorative coins to mark important events and anniversaries, as well as precious metal coins for investment purposes.
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These coins featured patriotic slogans and images of soldiers, tanks, and aircraft.Īfter the communist victory in 1949, the People’s Republic of China introduced a new series of coins featuring the image of Mao Zedong on the obverse and a variety of designs on the reverse, including images of famous Chinese landmarks and symbols of agriculture and industry. The coins were minted in copper, nickel, and silver, and were used until 1929 when they were replaced by a new series of coins featuring the image of Sun Yat-sen, the founder of the republic.ĭuring the Second Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945), the Republic of China government issued special coins in copper, brass, and silver to raise funds for the war effort. The first series of coins issued by the republic featured a sunburst design on the obverse and the denomination in Chinese characters on the reverse. In the early 20th century, the fall of the Qing Dynasty and the establishment of the Republic of China (1912-1949) brought about major changes in Chinese coinage. These coins were of higher quality and more durable than their predecessors and were used throughout China as legal tender. This design continued into the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912 CE), which saw the introduction of machine-struck coins made of copper, brass, or iron. However, coins remained in circulation and continued to be minted for use in local transactions.ĭuring the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 CE), the design of coins became more standardized, with the inscriptions and images of the emperor on one side and the denomination and mint on the other. The Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368 CE) saw the introduction of paper money, which gradually replaced coins as the primary means of exchange.
In the Song Dynasty (960-1279 CE), the design of the coins became more intricate, with detailed inscriptions and images of animals or mythical creatures. These coins were inscribed with the name of the emperor, the year of minting, and other information, and were used primarily for government transactions and taxes.ĭuring the Tang Dynasty (618-907 CE), the use of copper coins spread to the common people, who would often carry them in strings or bundles for ease of use. During the Han Dynasty (206 BCE-220 CE), round coins with square holes in the center became more prevalent, a shape that would continue to dominate Chinese coinage for centuries to come. The earliest Chinese coins were made of bronze and shaped like spades and knives, reflecting the agricultural and martial values of the society. In this article, we will take a brief look at the evolution of Chinese coins, from ancient times to the 20th century.
Throughout its history, Chinese coinage has undergone numerous changes in terms of design, composition, and usage. Coins in China have been used as a means of exchange and a symbol of political power since the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BCE). Chinese coinage has a long and fascinating history that spans over two millennia.
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