"Junk" Silver Dollar
Item
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Title
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"Junk" Silver Dollar
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Description
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Also known as a Sun Yat-sen silver dollar, or Yuan, from the Republic of China in 1934, this coin measures 39.5 millimeters in diameter.
Front: portrait of former president of the Republic of China, Sun Yat-sen, faces left. The Chinese characters arcs above (reading right to left) “Republic of China 23rd year,” referring to the twenty-third year of the Republic, 1912 + 23 – 1, the first year is included in elapsed time.
Reverse: a Chinese Junk under full sail to the right supported on waves. The Chinese characters (reading right to left) “One Yuan” (equivalent to one dollar).
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After the unification of China in 1929, the Nationalists issued silver dollars with Sun Yat-sen’s portrait on the obverse and a representation of a Chinese junk on the reverse. In 1932, this dollar became official currency and was redesigned with the reverse incorporating birds flying over the junk and, more ominously, a rising sun on the right. This design was unpopular because the rising sun seemed to symbolize support for the Japanese. The design was quickly changed to omit the birds and the sun. Rising inflation
eventually lead to the coins being withdrawn from circulation and replaced with paper money in 1935. However, reckless issue of paper money by the Nationalists during the war with Japan triggered runaway inflation and silver dollars were freely traded again due to a lack of public confidence in paper money. With the formation of the Communist Government in 1949, all silver dollars were recalled.
From ca. 1750 to 1940, numerous European powers and Asian governments minted silver trade coins and standard silver currency to facilitate commerce with Africa, Arab nations, India, Southeast Asia, and the Far East. These coins circulated at a value based on the weight and fineness of their content.
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Identifier
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2008.036.023
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Source
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China
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Subject
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Numismatics
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Provenance
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William and Catherine Sell
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Date Created
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1934 CE
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Is Part Of
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Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum
