PCGS Around The World – China (1912) Pattern 10 Cents

The revolution that began in 1911 brought about the founding of the Republic of China in 1912. This event would have leader Dr. Sun Yat-sen and his vice president, General Li Yuan-Hung, commemorated on undated coinage as memorial coins or “MEMENTO,” as the coins note in English. While silver dollars were struck featuring the two leaders, the intent for a common circulation-issue dollar produced by the republic didn’t occur until 1914, and this piece would feature President Yuan Shih-kai.

In addition to the dollar coinage, a 20 cents coin was issued for circulation by the Nanking Mint. This coin also featured the portrait of Sun Yat-sen. An unadopted pattern coin for the 10 cents coin is a rarely seen and extremely rare piece. The pattern for the 10 cents mimics the design of the Sun Yat-sen dollar, but the die’s engraver, Ho Tze-liang, offered a less-refined engraving than that of the dollar counterpart. The coin also differs with reverse script now saying 10 pieces equal to 1 dollar. While few of these patterns are known, there are multiple types, including a thinner-planchet example and two differing edges – reeded and milled. The 10 cents pattern coins, while struck, were never adopted and released for regular production, making the surviving examples all very scarce today.

In 2022, an example was submitted to the PCGS office in Hong Kong. This coin was previously encapsulated by an alternative grading service and is a well-known example from the Ultima Collection. This coin joined others from the collection to now be encapsulated by PCGS and is graded SP62, featuring the pedigree of both Ultima Collection and Glorium Collection. The 1912 “Birth of the Republic Series” of coins is listed as number 23 in the Top Chinese Coins by Michael Hans Chou and Sun Han.