Item number: A1964

Year: AD 1921

Material: Copper

Size: 28.2 x 28.2 x 1.5 mm

Weight: 7.25 g

Manufactured by: Hangzhou Mint

Provenance: Da Chen Stamps and Coins Collection 2015

According to Taiwanese numismatist Zheng Renjie’s book Appreciation of Chinese Copper Coins (中國銅元鑑賞), this copper coin is a fantasy issue (臆造幣) minted around the 20th year of the Republic of China (AD 1931). It was reportedly commissioned by Shanghai merchants and produced at the Hangzhou Mint.

The obverse of the coin imitates the “Sun Yat-sen Founding Commemorative Coin”, which was issued by the Nationalist Government after establishing its capital in Nanjing and unifying China in the 17th year of the Republic of China (AD 1928). This coin type is commonly referred to in numismatic circles as “Sun Small Head” (孫小頭) silver dollar.

The reverse of the coin features the double-flag design that was commonly used as a model for copper coins by various provinces during the Beiyang Government period since the 4th year of the Republic of China (AD 1915). The design consists of the crossed Beiyang Five-Coloured National Flag and the Eighteen-Star Army Flag, with floral patterns adorning both sides of the flags. The upper edge of the coin bears the Chinese inscription “Republic of China” (中華民國), while the lower edge is inscribed with “Founding Commemorative Coin” (開國紀念幣).

The Hangzhou Mint was expanded from the former Zhejiang Copper Coin Bureau of the Qing Dynasty and officially commenced operations in AD 1920. At its peak, it produced the highest number of coins nationwide. However, following the completion of the Central Mint in Shanghai under the Nanjing National Government in AD 1932, the Hangzhou Mint ceased operations in June of the same year.

物件編號: A1964

年代: 公元 1921 年

材質: 紅銅

尺寸: 28.2 x 28.2 x 1.5 mm

重量: 7.25 g

製造地: 杭州造幣廠

來源: 大城郵幣社 2015

根據臺灣錢幣收藏家鄭仁傑出版的《中國銅元鑑賞》一書，這一枚銅幣是民國20年 (公元1931年) 左右，上海商人委託杭州造幣廠鑄造的臆造幣。

錢幣正面是仿效民國17年 (公元1928年) 起，定都於南京且統一中國的國民政府發行之「孫中山開國紀念幣」也就是收藏界俗稱的「孫小頭」銀幣模具。

錢幣背面則是民國4年 (公元1915年) 以來，北洋政府時期的地方各省經常用以作為銅幣範本的雙旗模具，即交叉的北洋五色國旗和十八星陸軍旗，旗子的兩側以花草紋飾作為裝飾。錢幣上緣以漢字打印國號「中華民國」，下緣則是「開國紀念幣」字樣。

杭州造幣廠以清代浙江銅元局為基礎擴建，並於公元1920年正式開工，其鑄造的錢幣數量一度為全國之最。直到公元1932年，南京國民政府於上海的中央造幣廠竣工後，杭州造幣廠方才於同年6月停工歇業。