Item number: A1357

Year: AD 1896

Material: Copper

Size: 25.5 x 25.5 mm

Provenance: Fuchin Coin 2024

This copper coin was issued in AD 1896 during the reign of Gojong in Korea. It was produced under the unified minting system of the central Korean government and made of copper, adhering to the standards for size and weight of contemporary international coin production.

The obverse bears the inscriptions “Joseon,” “Established Year 505,” “오푼,” and “5 Fen,” the latter two indicating the coin’s denomination. At the centre is a depiction of two three-clawed dragons flying counter-clockwise. The year “Established Year 505” is based on the foundation of the Joseon dynasty in AD 1392, corresponding to AD 1896.

The reverse features designs symbolising national identity and culture, including hibiscus (mugunghwa, also known as the Rose of Sharon) and plum blossom branches encircling the design. This fusion of traditional motifs with modern elements reflects the transitional period of the era.

The issuance of this copper coin was part of a significant monetary reform undertaken during the final years of the Joseon dynasty, reflecting Korea’s efforts to modernise its economic system. In the late 19th century, the dynasty faced substantial internal and external challenges. Domestically, the traditional feudal economic structure was in decline, and the coexistence of diverse forms of currency—from barter to metal coins—was inefficient and insufficient to meet the growing demands of the economy.

Simultaneously, increasing international influence, particularly from Japan and Western powers, highlighted the necessity of modernising Korea’s financial system. In this context, King Gojong initiated a series of reforms, including the standardisation of currency.

The introduction of the 5-fen copper coin aimed to resolve the domestic monetary disarray by providing a small-denomination coin that was portable and easy to circulate. However, due to Korea’s limited integration into the international market at the time and the inefficiencies within its internal economic framework, the circulation and impact of this coin were relatively constrained.

物件編號: A1357

年代: 公元 1896 年

材質: 銅

尺寸: 25.5 x 25.5 mm

來源: 福君錢幣 2024

此枚銅錢為朝鮮於公元1896年高宗時期發行的銅幣，由朝鮮中央機構統一鑄造，材質為銅，製作時尺寸與重量有符合當時國際硬幣製造的標準。

正面外廓分別有「朝鮮」、「開國五百五年」、「오푼」、「5 Fen」的字樣，後面兩個文字都是在表示銅錢的面額，正中間為是一對逆時針方向環繞的兩條三爪飛龍。開國五百五年，以朝鮮建國於公元1392年計算，對應公元1896年。背面環繞著象徵國家與文化的木槿（無窮花）和梅花枝，展現了傳統與現代融合的設計風格。

此銅錢的發行為朝鮮王朝末期一項具有深遠意義的貨幣改革舉措，體現了該國在現代化進程中對自身經濟體系的調整。公元19世紀末的朝鮮王朝處於巨大的內外挑戰之中。國內，傳統封建經濟體系面臨困境，流通的貨幣形式多樣化但效率低下，從實物貨幣到金屬貨幣並存，難以支持日益增長的經濟需求。

另一方面，國際勢力逐步滲透，尤其是日本與西方列強的影響，對朝鮮的金融體系提出了現代化的需求。在此背景下，高宗開始推動一系列改革，包括貨幣標準化。

五分銅幣的發行旨在解決國內貨幣混亂的局面，提供一種方便攜帶且易於流通的小額貨幣。然而，由於當時朝鮮經濟尚未完全融入國際市場，加上內部經濟制度的不完善，該銅幣的實際流通範圍有限。