Digital museum showcasing the collection of worldwide legends over the years! 千古不朽博物館展示多年來收藏的世界傳奇故事!
Great Manchukuo
Old 5 CentsKangde 4th era
大滿洲國
舊五分康德四年
Item number: A399
Year: AD 1937
Material: Cupronickel
Size: 19.9 x 19.9 x 1.2 mm
Weight: 3.5 g
Provenance:
1. Noonans 2022
2. D. L. F. Sealy Collection
This is a five-cents coin issued in the fourth year of Kangde (AD 1937) by Manchukuo under Japanese control, made of cupronickel. The obverse features two symmetrically positioned three-clawed dragons flanking a flaming pearl, with the denomination “five cents” inscribed vertically between them. The surrounding design imitates the circular cloud and thunder patterns commonly found on ancient Chinese bronzeware. The reverse side showcases a budding peony in the centre, flanked by five-pointed stars on each side, with the inscriptions “Great Manchukuo” and “Kangde Year 4” indicating the country’s name and the year of issuance, respectively. The reverse border mirrors the obverse, also featuring the cloud and thunder pattern motif inspired by ancient bronzeware.
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.
This five cents coin, made of cupronickel, was issued between the 2nd year of Datong (AD 1933) and the 7th year of Kangde (AD 1940), just before the outbreak of the Pacific War, spanning a total of seven years.