Item number: A56

Year: AD 1905

Material: Cupronickel

Size: 20.7 x 20.7 mm

Manufactured by: Osaka Mint, Japan

Provenance: Xiang Yun Antique 2023

This is a 5-Chon cupronickel coin, circulated in the Korean Empire during the 9th year of the Gwangmu era (AD 1905). On the obverse side, it bears the denomination “5 chon” in Korean Hanja characters, flanked on the left and right sides by floral arrangements symbolizing the expulsion of evil and representing the royal family, featuring bellflowers and pear blossoms tied together. At the top, there is a pear blossom motif, emblematic of the royal household.

The reverse side features a beaded border with a central depiction of a phoenix spreading its wings, symbolizing the royal family. The upper border is inscribed with the Korean Hanja characters denoting the year “Daehan. Gwangmu 9th year,” while the lower border displays the denomination “5 Chon” in both English and Korean Hangul script.

After the First Sino-Japanese War in AD 1894, Korea emerged from the shadow of its suzerain, the Qing Dynasty of China, and swiftly became embroiled in the rivalry between Japan and Russia in Northeast Asia. Domestically, Korea faced turmoil due to the debate over pro-Japanese or pro-Russian policies. In AD 1897, taking advantage of Russia’s greater influence in Northeast Asia compared to Japan, King Gojong of Korea seized the opportunity to emulate Japan and China by declaring himself emperor, thereby changing the country’s name to the Korean Empire and adopting the era name of “Gwangmu.”

In the fifth year of the Gwangmu era (AD 1901), under the guidance of Russian advisor Alexeyev, the Korean Empire transitioned from a silver standard to a gold standard and began minting new currency. However, in AD 1905, following Russia’s defeat in the Russo-Japanese War, Russia was forced to withdraw from the Korean Peninsula. Subsequently, Japan, through the Eulsa Treaty, strengthened its control over Korea and closed the mints within Korea. The coin minted in AD 1905, as described, was produced at the Osaka Mint in Japan, resembling the contemporary Japanese currency known as the “Silver Dragon.” Finally, in AD 1910, under Japanese coercion, the Korean Empire signed the Japan-Korea Annexation Treaty, leading to the demise of the Korean Empire and its transformation into a Japanese colony.

物件編號: A56

年代: 公元 1905 年

材料: 白銅

尺寸: 20.7 x 20.7 mm

製造地: 大阪造幣廠，日本

來源: 祥雲珍寶閣 2023

這是一枚光武9年(公元1905年)在大韓帝國流通的5錢白銅輔幣。硬幣正面以韓國漢字標示「五錢」面額，左右兩側分別是象徵驅逐邪惡和代表皇室的桔梗花與梨花枝紮成的花結，最上方則是象徵皇室的梨花紋飾。硬幣背面有一道珠圈，內部有象徵皇室的鳳凰展翅圖。外圍的上端是韓國漢字標示的年號「大韓。光武九年」，下端則是分別以英文和諺文標示面額「五錢」。

公元1894年甲午戰爭結束後，朝鮮脫離宗主國大清帝國的保護，很快便捲入日本和沙俄在東北亞的競逐，國內則面臨親日或親俄路線之爭帶來的動盪。公元1897年，趁著俄國對東北亞的影響大於日本之際，時任朝鮮國王的高宗趁勢師法日本和中國稱帝，並且更改國號和年號為「大韓帝國」與「光武」。

光武5年(公元1901年)，在俄羅斯顧問阿列克謝耶夫建議下，大韓帝國從銀本位調整為金本位和鑄造新貨幣。但公元1905年，日俄戰爭中戰敗的俄羅斯被迫退出朝鮮半島，此後日本藉由《乙巳條約》強化對韓國的控制，並且關閉韓國國內的造幣廠。上述這枚公元1905年鑄造的硬幣，即是在日本的大阪造幣廠鑄造，故其設計上跟當時在日本流通的龍洋雷同。公元1910年，大韓帝國最終在日本脅迫下簽訂《日韓合併條約》，宣告大韓帝國滅亡和淪為日本的殖民地。