1 Yuan Pattern; proposed "Junk dollar"; Japanese strike

Features

Issuer	Republic of China
Period	Republic (1912-1949)
Type	Patterns
Year	18 (1929)
Calendar	Chinese republican
Value	1 Yuan = 1 Dollar
Currency	Yuan (1912-1948)
Composition	Silver
Diameter	39 mm
Shape	Round
Technique	Milled
Orientation	Medal alignment ↑↑
Demonetized	Yes
Number	N# 136923
References	KM# Pn102 Standard Catalog of World Coins (86 volumes). , Kann# 618 Eduard Kann; 2006. Illustrated Catalog of Chinese Coins. Ishi Press International, New York City, New York, United States (3 volumes). , L&M# 93 Lin Gwo Ming, Ma Tak Wo (ed.); 2008. 中國金銀幣目錄: 清朝民國篇 = Illustrated Catalogue of Chinese Gold & Silver Coins (7^th Edition). Tak Wo Numismatic, Hong Kong, Hong Kong.

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Obverse

Bust of Sun Yat-sen facing left with Chinese ideograms above.

Script: Chinese

Lettering: 年八十國民華中

Translation: Year 18 of the Republic of China

Reverse

Three-masted ship (a junk) sailing left with one Chinese ideogram on either side.

Script: Chinese

Lettering: 元壹

Translation: 1 Yuan

Edge

Reeded.

Mint

Japan Mint (独立行政法人造幣局 / Dokuritsu Gyōsei Hōjin Zōheikyoku), Japan

Comments

In 1929, the Chinese Ministry of Finance ordered designs for the then proposed Sun Yat-sen "Junk dollar". Patterns were submitted from the world's five leading mints, located in Austria, England, Italy, Japan, and the United States. Upon completion, the various mints shipped the dies (as well as samples of the new patterns) to China, where all were restruck by the Hangchow mint, which accounts for their availability today.

When Kann reached out to the Osaka Mint and asked about this issue, the mint said it had no knowledge or involvement in the making of this type. Regardless, Kann remains confident in his attribute of this piece to the Osaka Mint.

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Date					VG	F	VF	XF	AU	UNC
Undetermined
18 (1929)										$ 52 000		年八十

Values in the table above are expressed in USD. They are based on evaluations by Numista users and sales realized on Internet platforms. They serve as an indication only; they are not intended to be relied upon for buying, selling or exchanging. Numista does not buy or sell coins or banknotes.

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Past sales

Pictures	Sale	Date	Grade	Sold price
	Stacks Bowers April 2023 Hong Kong Auction Lot 40220	17 Apr 2023	UNC (PCGS SP63)	USD 240 000.00 (incl. buyer's premium)
© Stacks Bowers
	Stacks Bowers August 2019 Hong Kong Auction Lot 52303	19 Aug 2019	UNC (PCGS SP61)	USD 26 400.00 (incl. buyer's premium)
© Stacks Bowers
	Stacks Bowers April 2016 Hong Kong Auction Lot 80079	5 Apr 2016	UNC (PCGS SP64+)	USD 47 800.00 (incl. buyer's premium)
© Stacks Bowers
	Stacks Bowers March 2019 Hong Kong Auction Lot 60642	25 Mar 2019	AU (PCGS SP58)	USD 24 000.00 (incl. buyer's premium)
© Stacks Bowers