© Classical Numismatic Group, Inc.
© Classical Numismatic Group, Inc.
1 Mace Pattern
39 (1950) year| Gold | 3.1 g | 17 mm |
| Issuer | Taiwan |
|---|---|
| Period | Republic (1949-date) |
| Type | Pattern |
| Year | 39 (1950) |
| Calendar | Chinese republican |
| Value | 1 Mace |
| Currency | Old Taiwanese Dollar (1946-1949) |
| Composition | Gold |
| Weight | 3.1 g |
| Diameter | 17 mm |
| Shape | Round |
| Technique | Milled |
| Orientation | Medal alignment ↑↑ |
| Demonetized | Yes |
| Updated | 2024-10-04 |
| Numista | N#315512 |
|---|---|
| Rarity index | 97% |
Reverse
Ancient square-footed spade coin of Qi Be (?); legend in Hànzì characters flanking
Script: Chinese
Comment
Struck late 1949 at Chéngdū mintBy late 1949, the People’s Liberation Army had driven Nationalist forces into a near route. The Kuomintang realized that their fiat currency would be all but worthless under such disastrous circumstances and so apparently considered striking precious metal coinage to pay their troops. A series of extremely rare patterns were produced at Chéngdū, then the last city in Nationalist hands, from dies originally made to strike the 1940 coinage. The dies were altered to remove the denomination name and to change the date from year 29 to year 39. But the experiment came to naught, as Chéngdū fell to the Communists in December 1949, with the remaining Nationalist forces fleeing to Taiwan soon after.
Interesting fact
The Pattern 1 Mace (Pattern) 39 (1950) from Taiwan made of Gold weighing 3.1 g is a rare and valuable coin. One interesting fact about this coin is that it was minted in 1950, during the Chinese Civil War, when the Nationalist government, led by Chiang Kai-shek, was facing defeat by the Communist forces. The coin was likely minted as a symbol of national pride and independence, and its value today is a testament to its historical significance.