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!
ROC,
New Happy Mahjong Club Token
民國
新快樂蔴雀總滙代幣
Item number: A114
Year: ND
Material: Aluminium
Size: 22.53 x 22.57 mm
Weight: 1.55 g
Provenance:
1. Noonans 2022
2. D. L. F. Sealy Collection
This is an aluminium token, believed to have been issued in the early Republic of China by the gambling company “New Happy Mahjong Club.” The token has a face value of “One.” The obverse features two concentric circles, with the innermost circle bearing the denomination “one.” In the outer circle, the seven characters “Sin Kuai Le Ma Cyue Zong Huei” (New Happy Mahjong Club) are inscribed in a clockwise sequence.
The reverse side of the token also features two concentric circles. The inner circle displays the denomination “1” in Arabic numerals, while the outer circle bears the English company name “SUN FAIL OK CO.★”. Based on the English inscription, it can be inferred that the company’s clientele was not limited to Chinese patrons but also included foreigners. This suggests that the token was likely used in a cosmopolitan area with a significant foreign presence, such as British Hong Kong or the Shanghai International Settlement.
“Sparrow” is another term for the popular Chinese gambling game “Mahjong.” Originating as a card game in the markets of Jiangnan, Mahjong had evolved by the late Qing Dynasty into a game enjoyed across the country and by all social classes. However, with the establishment of both the Republic of China and later the People’s Republic of China, Mahjong often became associated with gambling and crime, leading to government efforts to ban it.
In recent years, however, as Taiwanese society aged, Mahjong has increasingly been viewed as a beneficial activity for helping the elderly maintain social connections and prevent cognitive decline.