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) onwards, utilising the aforementioned dies for mass production.This coin is embedded in a silver dish crafted by the renowned Shanghai silversmith Zee Sung, with the manufacturing period estimated to fall roughly between AD 1927 and AD 1932.
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.” The “OF” area at the bottom left corner of the coin exhibits indentation marks and signs of abrasion, likely resulting from impact.
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.
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。硬幣左下角的「OF」部位，有經過撞擊的凹痕和磨損痕跡。
