Item number: A1532

Year: AD 1988

Material: 999.9 Gold

Size: 16.6 x 16.6 x 1.1 mm

Weight: 3.75 g

Provenance: Da Chen Stamps and Coins Collection 2014

This is a commemorative gold medallion issued in AD 1988 by the Shin Kong Life Insurance Company, a subsidiary of the Shin Kong Group, founded by Wu Huo-shih. The medal was released to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the company’s establishment.

This commemorative medal, weighing one tael (3.75 grams), features a design with a beaded circle surrounding the central image of a family of four standing under an umbrella adorned with the Shin Kong Life Insurance logo. This symbolises the company’s commitment to providing insurance for every household. On either side of the beaded circle are depictions of the national flower, the plum blossom, which serve as a divider. The lower edge bears the Chinese characters for the company name, “新光人壽保險股份有限公司” (Shin Kong Life Insurance Co., Ltd.), while the upper edge features the inscription “創立25週年紀念” (25th Anniversary of the Founding).

The reverse side of the commemorative medal also features a beaded circle, with a depiction of a lion in the centre, symbolising the founder Wu Huoshi. On the outer circle, the top left corner shows the purity of the gold, marked as “999.9,” while the top right corner indicates the weight unit, “一錢” (one tael). The lower edge displays the company’s English trademark, “SHIN KONG LIFE INSURANCE.”

In AD 1919, Wu Huoshi was born in Hsinchu, Taiwan, under Japanese rule. At the age of 17, he moved to Taipei to work as an apprentice while attending the predecessor of the Taipei Private Taogang Senior Commercial Vocational School, known as “Taogang Tailoring School,” during his evenings. While working as an apprentice in a fabric store operated by the Japanese, he earned recognition and promotion from his supervisor, Mr. Ogawa Mitsusada.

In AD 1945, after the end of World War II, Wu Huoshi founded “Xinguang Trading Company” by combining one character from his hometown, Hsinchu, and one from his benefactor, Ogawa Mitsusada’s name. Under Wu’s leadership, Xinguang Trading Company expanded from a fabric business into a major conglomerate that had a significant impact on Taiwan’s livelihood and financial sectors. Xinguang Life Insurance, a subsidiary of the group, was established in AD 1963. In AD 1993, the company completed its headquarters, the “Xinguang Life Insurance Tower,” located in front of Taipei Main Station. It once stood as the tallest skyscraper in Taiwan and a key landmark in Taipei.

物件編號: A1532

年代: 公元 1988 年

材質: 999.9 金

尺寸: 16.6 x 16.6 x 1.1 mm

重量: 3.75 g

來源: 大城郵幣社 2014

這是一枚公元1988年，吳火獅的新光集團轄下「新光人壽」保險公司為慶祝成立二十五周年發行的紀念金章。

這一枚重量為一臺錢 (3.75 克) 的紀念章，正面有一道珠圈環繞，中央是一個四口之家站在帶有新光人壽商標的傘下，象徵新光人壽提供保險給每個家庭的商業形象。珠圈兩側以中華民國國花梅花作為分界線，下緣以漢字打印商號「新光人壽保險股份有限公司」，上緣則是「創立25週年紀念」。

紀念章背面也有一道珠圈，裡面的雄獅是創辦人吳火獅的象徵。外圍的左上角是紀念章的含金量「999.9」，右上角則是重量單位「一錢」。下緣則是公司的英文商標「SHIN KONG LIFE INSURANCE」。

公元1919年，吳火獅出生於日本統治下的臺灣新竹，17歲前往臺北擔任學徒，一邊利用晚上時間至臺北市私立稻江高級商業職業學校的前身「稻江洋裁講習所」學習。於日本人開設的布行擔任學徒期間，受到主管小川光定的肯定和提拔。

公元1945年，第二次世界大戰結束後，吳火獅從故鄉新竹和恩人小川光定名字各取一字創立「新光商行」。新光商行在吳火獅經營下，從起初的布料生意逐步拓展為影響臺灣民生和金融領域的新光集團，涉足保險的新光人壽成立於公元1963年。新光人壽於臺北車站前的總部「新光人壽保險摩天大樓」在公元1993年竣工，一度是全臺灣和臺北最高的摩天大樓和重要地標。