Taiwan Small Silver Coins in Ching Dynasty

Stephen Tai
Mar.13, 1998

	Inscription: Kuang Hsu Yuang Bao, Made in Taiwan Denomination: weighed 7.2 candareens (10 cents) Diameter: 18.5 mm Date: Minted in the 16^th year of Kuang Hsu (1890)
	Inscription: Kuang Hsu Yuang Bao, Made in Taiwan Province Denomination: weighed 7.2 candareens (10 cents) Diameter: 18.5 mm Date: Minted in the 18^th year of Kuang Hsu (1892)

Shown two 10-cent type silver coins were minted severally in 1890 and 1892 by Taiwan government. The major distinction between the two coin editions is in their inscriptions. The earlier one as of Made in Taiwan, and the latter one Made in Taiwan Province. They were ones of the earliest machine-struck silver coins appearing in entire China during late Ching Dynasty.
No bigger silver coins than these two were minted in Taiwan. A similar coin of 1 mace 4.4 candareens (20 cents) are reported exists, even though, however, no second one have ever been found. It should be a pattern, which was not for mass production, nor put into circulation.
After Taiwan being ceded to Japan by China in 1895, the new ruler prohibited those two silver coins from circulation. Most of the coins were then melt or used as bottoms, earrings or other women's accessories by the natives. Therefore they are very difficult to get in today, especially the latter one. Those coins we can found in today usually have a soldering spot on their centers or edges, and the conditions are also very poor.