This is a silver commemorative coin minted by the Tianjin Mint in the 10th year of the Republic of China (AD 1921). It was produced to celebrate the third anniversary of the inauguration and the 67th birthday of the then President of the Republic of China, Hsu Shih-chang. The Tianjin Mint was responsible for minting currency for the Beiyang government.
On the obverse side of the coin is a half-length portrait of Hsu Shih-chang, wearing a suit and adorned with a medal. The figure’s eyes are lively and expressive, a testament to the craftsmanship passed down by Luigi Giorgi, the legendary Italian sculptor responsible for designing the “Yuan Big Head” coin. Luigi Giorgi served at the Tianjin Mint from AD 1910 for a decade until the Beiyang government could no longer afford his salary and dismissed him. However, Giorgi’s craftsmanship was passed down to ten local apprentices, ensuring its continuation.
On the reverse side, there are two beaded rims, with the inner rim featuring a depiction of the corner of the Huai Ren Hall in the Zhongnanhai compound, where Hsu Shih-chang proclaimed his inauguration. Four figures stand on the stairs, presumably representing individuals who have come to offer their congratulations. On the left side, in the empty space, are the characters “benevolence and longevity ascend together,” which originate from a famous couplet by Zhang Yuesong, a talented scholar from Hainan in the Qing Dynasty, presented to Liang Zhangju, the governor of Guangxi: “With noble demeanour and literary talent, radiance and brilliance intertwine; With splendid scenery and gentle airs, benevolence and longevity ascend together.” On the outer rim, above, is the inscription “September of the tenth year of the Republic of China.” Below are two floral decorations and the words “commemorative coin.”
This commentative 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.
The commemorative coin also exists in gold, and there is another medal type without the inscription “commemorative coin.” According to research published by collector Sun Hao, residing in the United States in AD 2021, this medal featuring the portrait of Hsu Shih-chang was issued to commemorate the completion of the Peking Union Medical College, funded by the Rockefeller Foundation of the United States. As the President of the Republic of China, Hsu Shih-chang personally attended the completion ceremony and distributed commemorative medals to the attendees.
Hsu Shih-chang wielded significant influence in the late Qing and early Republican era, serving as the Governor-General of the three eastern provinces during the Qing Dynasty. During the outbreak of the Xinhai Revolution, he played a pivotal role by advocating for Yuan Shikai, who had been marginalised, to reassume military authority from the Qing court to suppress the revolution, leading to Yuan’s subsequent return to power. In the seventh year of the Republic (AD 1918), Hsu Shih-chang was elected as President of the Republic of China by the parliament under the influence of the Anhui Clique warlords. However, his presidency came to an end in AD 1922 after the First Zhili-Fengtian War when he was pressured by the Zhili warlords to resign.
