Item number: M362

Year: AD 1922

Material: Bronze

Size: 38.8 x 38.8 x 2.2 mm

Weight: 21.75 g

Manufactured by: Waterbury Farrel Foundry & Machine Company

Provenance: Stack’s Bowers 2024

This is a bronze commemorative medal minted in AD 1922 by the Waterbury Farrel Foundry & Machine Company of Connecticut, USA. The medal was produced to test the functionality of machinery to be delivered to the Central Mint in Shanghai, operated by the Nationalist Government, and to commemorate the event.

Founded in AD 1851, the Waterbury Farrel Foundry & Machine Company specialised in the production of large industrial equipment, including printing presses, rolling mills, drop forging machines, cold headers, and various types of machine tools.

The obverse of the medal features the manufacturer’s name, “WATERBURY FARREL FOUNDRY & MACH. CO. USA”, inscribed in the upper half, while the name of the import agent, “AMERICAN TRADING CO.”, is engraved in the lower half. The upper and lower edges bear the words “BUILDERS” and “AGENTS”, respectively.

The reverse of the medal features the client’s name, “CHINESE GOVERNMENT MINT,” engraved along the upper edge. At the centre, the location is inscribed as “SHANGHAI CHINA,” while the lower edge bears the year “1922.”

In the 17th year of the Republic of China (AD 1928), following the successful completion of the Northern Expedition, the Nationalist Government renamed the Shanghai Mint as the Central Mint, placing it under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Finance. The Central Mint officially began operations in the 22nd year of the Republic of China (AD 1933). Most of the machinery used by the mint was imported from the United States. Furthermore, the Nationalist Government even entrusted the Philadelphia Mint in the U.S. to directly produce coins on their behalf.

物件編號: M362

年代: 公元 1922 年

材質: 青銅

尺寸: 38.8 x 38.8 x 2.2 mm

重量: 21.75 g

製造地: 瓦特柏利法瑞鑄造及機械公司

來源: SBP錢幣拍賣 2024

這是一枚公元1922年，美國康乃狄克州「瓦特柏利法瑞鑄造及機械公司」以其將交予國民政府於上海的中央造幣廠機械，用以測試功能和作為紀念的青銅質紀念章。

瓦特柏利法瑞鑄造及機械公司成立於公元1851年，主要承包印刷機、軋鋼機、落錘鍛造機、冷鐓機和機床等大型工業器具的製造業務。

獎章正面上半部是製造商商號「WATERBURY FARREL FOUDRY & MACH.CO. USA」(瓦特柏利法瑞鑄造及機械公司 美國)，下半部則是進口代理商商號「AMERICAN TRADING CO.」(茂生洋行)。上緣和下緣則是「BUILDERS」(製造商) 和「AGENTS」(代理商) 字樣。

背面的上緣鐫刻客戶名字「CHINESE GOVERNMENT MINT」(中國中央造幣廠)，正中央則是地址「SHANGHAI CHINA」(上海 中國)，下方則是年份「1922」。

民國17年 (公元1928年)，國民政府完成北伐之後，將上海造幣廠更名為隸屬於財政部管轄的「中央造幣廠」，並且於民國22年(公元1933年) 正式開鑄。中央造幣廠使用的機械多從美國進口，甚至國民政府還曾委託美國的費城造幣廠直接鑄造錢幣。