Item number: A408

Year: AD 1945

Material: Magnesium Oxide

Size: 16.2 x 16.2 x 1.5 mm

Weight: 0.7 g

Provenance:

1. Noonans 2022

2. D. L. F. Sealy Collection

In the final years of World War II, specifically in the 12th year of the Kangde era (AD 1945), Manchukuo faced increasing metal shortages. To conserve resources, the government issued a one cent coin made from magnesium oxide. The coin is predominantly red in colour, with white tinges characteristic of magnesium oxide.

The coin’s obverse is encircled by a bead pattern along the edge. At the centre, there is a symmetrical cloud motif flanking an octagonal design, with the denomination “one cent” on either side. The reverse of the coin features the denomination “1” in Arabic numerals at the centre. Above and below the denomination, the inscriptions read “Empire of Manchukuo” and “12th year of Kangde”, indicating the country’s name and the year of issue, respectively.

In AD 1931, the Japanese Kwantung Army initiated the Mukden Incident, seizing control of Northeast China and subsequently establishing the puppet state of Manchukuo under the former Qing emperor Puyi. In AD 1934, Japan further tightened its grip on Manchukuo’s economy by founding the Central Bank of Manchou, which was tasked with issuing and minting the currency circulating within the puppet state.

In February AD 1945, the Central Bank of Manchou issued Document No. 21, which approved the recall of aluminium coins to be repurposed as wartime metal. They opted to mint lower-denomination coins, specifically one cent and five cents, using the more affordable magnesium. These coins were put into circulation on March 15, AD 1945, and remained in use until the collapse of Manchukuo on August 18, AD 1945.

物件編號: A408

年代: 公元 1945 年

材料: 氧化鎂

尺寸: 16.2 x 16.2 x 1.5 mm

重量: 0.7 g

來源:

1. 諾南斯 2022

2. 大衛.萊斯利.福布斯.西利舊藏

第二次世界大戰末期的康德12年(公元1945年)，金屬逐漸枯竭的滿洲國為節省資源，以氧化鎂為原料發行的壹分硬幣。錢幣通體為紅色，並且透露出氧化鎂的白色。

錢幣正面的邊緣以珠圈環繞，中央是上下對稱的祥雲，夾著一個八邊形圖騰，兩側則是面額「壹分」。錢幣背面的中央，以阿拉伯數字寫有幣值「1」。幣值的上下寫上「滿洲帝國」和「康德十二年」，分別是國號和發行年份。

公元1931年，日本關東軍發動「九一八事變」控制中國東北，旋即扶植前清廢帝溥儀的滿洲國魁儡政權。公元1934年，日本為進一步控制滿洲國經濟成立「滿洲中央銀行」，負責發行和鑄造在滿洲國流通的貨幣。公元1945年2月，滿洲中央銀行發出〈第21號文件〉通過回收鋁幣作為戰備金屬，改以廉價的鎂鑄造「壹分」和「五分」兩種小面額硬幣。當年3月15日起發行流通，直到滿洲國於8月18日覆滅為止。