Item number: A384-2

Year: AD 1934

Material: Copper

Size: 26.5 x 26,5 x 1.5 mm

Weight: 7.1 g

Provenance:

1. Noonans 2022

2. D. L. F. Sealy Collection

This is a five-cent copper coin issued on February 5, AD 1934, by the Chinese Soviet Republic, established by the Chinese Communist Party. It was circulated in the Central Soviet Area, the largest controlled region spanning across the borders of Fujian and Jiangxi provinces. This five-cent copper coin was produced using numerous moulds, resulting in a variety of different versions.

Based on the relative positioning of Hainan Island and the mainland of China on the coin’s obverse, these versions can be broadly classified into five types: “No Island,” “Enclosed Island,” “Connected Island,” “Near Island,” and “Distant Island.” The present coin belongs to the “Near Island” type.

The obverse of the coin features a beaded circle enclosing an abstract map of China, including Outer Mongolia, shaped like a begonia leaf. At the centre is the emblem of the Chinese Communist Party, a hammer and sickle, symbolising the CCP’s aim to implement communist ideals throughout China. To the lower right of the map is an image representing Hainan Island, the largest island of China. The outer edge of the beaded circle is marked by five-pointed stars on either side. The upper rim bears the national title “Chinese Soviet Republic,” while the lower rim is inscribed with the exchange rate of the coin, “Each twenty coins equivalent to one national currency yuan.”

The reverse of the coin features the denomination “Five Cents” inscribed horizontally in the centre, topped by a five-pointed star. On either side of the denomination are bundles of rice and wheat tied together with a cross-shaped bow, symbolising the Chinese Communist Party’s intent to appeal to and represent the interests of the peasant class.

In AD 1927, following the split between the Kuomintang (KMT) and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), initially brought together through Soviet mediation, a series of armed conflicts ensued, including the April 12 Purge and the Nanchang Uprising. Under the pressure of KMT’s suppression, the CCP was forced to withdraw from major cities such as Shanghai, retreating to rural areas to establish new bases.

In AD 1931, CCP representatives gathered in Ruijin, Jiangxi, to proclaim the establishment of the “Chinese Soviet Republic” (CSR). The following year, the “Chinese Soviet Republic Central Bank” was established to issue its own currency, including one and five cent copper coins, which were products of this period. However, by AD 1934, facing the KMT’s fifth encirclement campaign, the CCP was compelled to abandon its bases in southern China and move towards Shaanxi, marking the beginning of the “Long March.” This epic journey not only solidified Mao Zedong’s position as the paramount leader but also became a legendary chapter in the CCP’s history.

物件編號: A384-2

年代: 公元 1934 年

材料: 銅

尺寸: 26.5 x 26,5 x 1.5 mm

重量: 7.1 g

來源:

1. 諾南斯 2022

2. 大衛.萊斯利.福布斯.西利舊藏

這是一枚公元1934年2月5日起，中國共產黨成立的「中華蘇維埃共和國」，於橫跨福建和江西地界之面積最大的控制區「中央蘇區」發行之面額五分銅幣。該枚五分銅幣有眾多鑄模，存世許多不同版別，按正面的海南島和中國本土輪廓的相對位置，能大致劃分為「無島、套島、連島、近島、遠島」五種版別，該物件為「近島」版別。

錢幣正面有一道珠圈，裡面是包含外蒙古的抽象「秋海棠」中國地圖，正中央有一個中共的鐮刀和鐵鎚黨徽，象徵中共意圖在全中國實踐共產主義理念。中國地圖的右下角，則是中國最大的島嶼海南島意象。珠圈外側的左右以五角星為分界線，上緣鐫刻國號「中華蘇維埃共和國」，下緣是銅幣和銀幣的兌換比「每弍拾枚當國幣壹圓」字樣。

背面的中央是橫書面額「五分」，在頂端有一枚五角星。錢幣的左右兩側，分別是用十字蝴蝶結綑綁一起的稻穗和麥穗，象徵中共意圖爭取的農民階級。

公元1927年，原先於蘇聯撮合下合作的國民黨和共產黨分裂後，雙方陸續發生四一二清黨和南昌暴動等武裝衝突。中共面臨國民黨的圍剿之下，被迫紛紛退出像是上海等大城市，輾轉撤退至鄉村建立新根據地。公元1931年，中共代表齊聚於江西瑞金宣告成立「中華蘇維埃共和國」，於隔年組建「中華蘇維埃共和國中央銀行」發行自主的紙幣和硬幣，一分和五分面額的銅幣正是該時期的產物。但公元1934年面臨國軍五次圍剿，中共被迫放棄在華南的諸根據地往陝西移動，開啟其「兩萬五千里長征」神話和獨尊毛澤東為唯一領袖的政治發展。