Item number: A391

Year: AD 1929

Material: Bronze

Size: 23.4 x 23.4 x 1.6 mm

Weight: 5.5 g

Manufactured by: Eastern Provinces Arsenal, Shenyang

Provenance:

1. Noonans 2022

2. D. L. F. Sealy Collection

This is a copper 1 cent coin minted in the 18th year of the Republic of China (AD 1929) by the Eastern Provinces Arsenal. The obverse of the coin features two concentric circles; the outer circle is composed of a chain design, while the inner circle is made up of beads. Within the beaded circle, against a wavy background, is the denomination “1 cent” written vertically.

There also exists another trial version with the denomination written in the Chinese capital character “壹”. On either side of the outer circle are eight-petal floral clusters. The top and bottom edges are inscribed with “18th Year of the Republic of China” and “Eastern Provinces”, indicating the year of issue and the minting location.

The character “三” (three) in “Eastern Provinces” can be further categorised into “flat character” and “pause character” versions due to differences in the mould.

The reverse side of the coin features plum blossoms with knotted branches on either side. At the top centre is the emblem of the Kuomintang, symbolising the political shift in the 17th year of the Republic of China (AD 1928) when Zhang Xueliang declared the “Northeast Flag Replacement.” This event marked the submission of the Fengtian clique-controlled Northeastern provinces to the authority of the Nationalist Government led by the Kuomintang.

The monetary system in the three northeastern provinces of China was highly chaotic, with a mixture of gold, silver, and copper standards, as well as various private and foreign currencies in circulation. Consequently, in the 18th year of the Republic of China (AD 1929), Zhang Xueliang directed the minting of decimal copper coins under the name of the Dong San Province Official Bank, using the existing mint in Liaoning Province. The copper coins issued in the northeastern provinces weighed only 5.55 g, less than similar denomination coins minted in other provinces.

To prevent the influx of heavier copper coins from other provinces affecting local circulation, the northeastern provinces issued special orders for military and police checkpoints to inspect and confiscate such coins. From July AD 1929 until the cessation of minting in July AD 1930, the total issuance reached approximately 18 million coins.

物件編號: A391

年代: 公元 1929 年

材料: 青銅

尺寸: 23.4 x 23.4 x 1.6 mm

重量: 5.5 g

製造地: 東三省兵工廠，瀋陽

來源:

1. 諾南斯 2022

2. 大衛.萊斯利.福布斯.西利舊藏

這是一枚民國18年(公元1929年)，由東三省兵工廠鑄造的一分銅幣。錢幣正面有兩道圓圈，從外而內是鎖鏈和圓珠。珠圈內部是以波浪為背景，直書的面額「一分」，並且尚有另一種中文大寫的「壹」試鑄版本。外圈兩側各有一束八瓣花，上下緣鐫刻「中華民國十八年」和「東三省」字樣，即發行年份和地點。「三」的筆劃出於模具差異，還能細分為「平字」和「頓字」兩種版本。

背面兩側是打結的梅花，中央的上方是國民黨黨徽，象徵民國17年(公元1928年)，張學良宣布「東北易幟」以後，奉系軍閥控制的東北三省服從國民黨中央的國民政府。

東北三省的幣制十分混亂，金/銀/銅本位、私人和外國的不同貨幣皆有流通。故民國18年(公元1929年) ，張學良指示以東三省官銀號名義，以遼寧省現有造幣廠鑄造十進位銅元。由於東三省發行的銅元重量僅有5.55克，少於其他省分鑄造的相同面額錢幣，為避免其他省分流入的銅元影響流通，東三省特別下令軍警在各個關卡進行查禁。公元1929年7月至隔年7月停鑄為止，發行量總計達到1800萬枚之譜。