Item number: A275

Year: AD 1928-1932

Material: Silver-Gilt

Size: 37.4 x 37.4 mm

Weight: 26.74 g

Provenance: Da Chen Stamps and Coins Collection 2013

In April of the 16th year of the Republic of China (AD 1927), following the relocation of the Nationalist Government to Nanjing, the Ministry of Finance declared the minting of a new national currency using the old dies of the “Sun Yat-sen Founding Commemorative Coin,” replacing the position held by the “Yuan Big Head” national currency established by the Beiyang Government.

This coin is one of those minted from the year 17 of the Republic of China (AD 1928) upwards, utilising the aforementioned dies for mass production, and has undergone private gold gilt treatment.

On March 9th of the 1st year of the Republic of China (AD 1912), to commemorate the establishment of the Provisional Government of the Republic of China and Sun Yat-sen assuming office as its first Provisional President, the Ministry of Finance designed a set of dies for a “Founding Commemorative Coin.” Production commenced in May of the same year in Nanjing, but ceased in January of the following year. This version of the coin, distinguished by two five-pointed stars on the reverse side, is commonly referred to as the “Lower Five Stars Version.” In the 17th year of the Republic of China (AD 1928), a reissue of the “Founding Commemorative Coin” was undertaken, with minor modifications to the dies, notably replacing the five-pointed star with a six-petal flower ornamentation at the top.

The obverse of the coin features a left-facing portrait of Sun Yat-sen, surrounded by a beaded and dotted circle, with the national title “Republic of China” inscribed above and the legend “Founding Commemorative Coin” below. Both sides are adorned with plum blossom motifs, symbolising the national flower of the country, with each of the plum blossom’s five petals representing the principle of “Five Powers Separation.” The reverse side also contains a beaded and dotted circle, with a central inscription of the denomination “One Yuan” in vertical script, surrounded by a crossed sprig of grain motif, symbolising China’s agricultural foundation. Additionally, each sprig of grain consists of three leaves, representing the “Three Principles of the People.” The upper edge of the coin bears the English legend “Memento,” while the lower edge reads “Birth Of Republic Of China.”

Since its recasting in the 17th year of the Republic of China (AD 1928), this silver coin, affectionately nicknamed “Sun Small Head” by the public, was minted until the 21st year of the Republic of China (AD 1932) before ceasing production. It is estimated that the total mintage reached approximately three hundred million, making it the largest mintage of coins issued during the period of the Republic of China.

物件編號: A275

年代: 公元 1928-1932 年

材質: 銀鍍金

尺寸: 37.4 x 37.4 mm

重量: 26.74 g

來源: 大城郵幣社 2013

民國16年(公元1927年)4月，定都南京的國民政府財政部宣告以「孫中山開國紀念幣」舊模具鑄造新國幣，取代北洋政府制定的「袁大頭」國幣地位。這枚錢幣即為民國17年(公元1928年)起，以上述的鑄模投入量產的「孫中山開國紀念幣」，並且有經過私人鍍金加工處理。

民國元年(1912年)3月9日，為紀念中華民國臨時政府成立和孫中山擔任首任臨時大總統，彼時財政部設計一款「開國紀念幣」鑄模。同年5月於南京投入生產卻在隔年1月停鑄，該版本背面的下方有兩顆五星，故以「下五星版」稱呼。民國17年(公元1928年)重鑄的「開國紀念幣」僅稍微變動模具，將五角星取消改為上方的六瓣花裝飾而已。

錢幣正面是被珠圈和實線圓圈包圍的孫中山左側肖像，上方寫有國號「中華民國」，下方則寫有「開國紀念幣」銘文。兩側以「國花」梅花為飾，梅花的五片花瓣象徵孫中山的「五權分立」治國理念。錢幣背面中央亦各有一道珠圈和實線圓圈，內部有一個直書的「壹圓」面額和交叉的嘉禾圖飾。嘉禾象徵中國「以農立國」特色外，每支嘉禾的三片葉子則是代表「三民主義」。錢幣上緣以英文寫上「紀念幣」(Memento)，下緣則寫上「中華民國開國」(Birth Of Republic Of China)銘文。

自從民國17年(公元1928年)重鑄起，這枚民間暱稱為「孫小頭」的銀幣到民國21年(公元1932年)停鑄為止，發行量預估達到三億枚，是民國時期發行量最大的硬幣。