Item number: A1191

Year: AD 1913

Material: Brass

Size: 28.8 x 28.8 mm

Manufactured by: Tianjin Mint

Provenance: Fuchin Coin 2024

This is a “Republic Commemorative Coin” minted in the 2nd year of the Republic of China (AD 1913) by the Western Branch of the Tianjin Mint, which specialised in copper coinage. The coin is made of brass and has a denomination of 10 Cash.

The coin is covered with a burgundy-toned patina on both the obverse and reverse. Its overall design was crafted by Luigi Giorgi, a master engraver active from the late Qing dynasty to the early Republic of China. The obverse features two crossed five-coloured flags, symbolising the Republic, with floral motifs on either side. The upper edge bears the inscription of the national title, “Republic of China,” while the lower edge is inscribed with “Republic Commemorative Coin.”

The reverse side of the coin follows the design regulations issued by the Nanjing Provisional Government. It features a tied pair of grain sprigs, symbolising an abundant harvest of the five grains. At the centre, the denomination “Ten Cash” is engraved in upright Chinese characters, while the lower edge displays the English denomination “TEN CASH.”

Luigi Giorgi, an Italian sculptor, was hired by the Tianjin Mint for a hefty annual salary of ten thousand taels around the time of the fall of the Qing Dynasty in AD 1910. He continued his service until the 9th year of the Republic of China (AD 1920), when the Beiyang Government could no longer afford his salary and dismissed him. During this decade, Luigi Giorgi not only designed the most significant modern Chinese coin, the “Yuan Big Head”, but also played a role in cultivating native Chinese sculptors based at the Tianjin Mint.

物件編號: A1191

年代: 公元 1913 年

材質: 黃銅

尺寸: 28.8 x 28.8 mm

製造地: 天津造幣廠

來源: 福君錢幣 2024

這是一枚民國2年(公元1913年)，天津造幣廠專責銅幣的西廠鑄造之「共和紀念幣」，材質為黃銅，面額為十文。

錢幣正反兩面為酒紅色的包漿覆蓋，整體設計為活躍於清末至民初的雕模師魯喬奇之手。錢幣正面為兩面交叉的五色旗，兩側以花草作為裝飾。上緣以漢字鐫刻國號「中華民國」，下緣則是「共和紀念幣」字樣。

錢幣背面遵照南京臨時政府頒布的圖案樣式規定，以打結的嘉禾寓意五榖豐登，中央以漢字鐫刻直立的「十文」面額字樣，嘉禾下緣則是英文面額「TEN CASH」字樣。

魯喬奇為義大利籍雕模師，於清朝滅亡的公元1910年之際，以每年一萬大洋的高薪受聘於天津造幣廠，持續服務至民國9年(公元1920年)，直到北洋政府不堪負荷將其解雇為止。這十年的光陰間，魯喬奇操刀設計中國近代最重要的「袁大頭」硬幣外，更以天津造幣廠為基地培養中國本土雕模師。