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5 Yuan Yuan Shikai "Fat Man" Dollar
| Issuer | People's Republic of China |
|---|---|
| Year | |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Diameter | 45.39 mm |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
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| Reverse description | Central field bears two large Chinese characters 伍圓 (Five Yuan) in formal script, enclosed within a pair of symmetrical olive or grain wreaths that meet at the base tied with a decorative ribbon bow. The wreaths, rendered in fine relief, are composed of detailed leafy branches with budding clusters. A beaded inner border runs along the coin's rim, framing the entire design. |
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| Reverse lettering | 伍 圓 |
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| Additional information |
This is a modern restrike of the 1914 Yuan Shikai dollar, originally introduced as part of a currency reform intended to unify China's chaotic monetary system under a single national silver standard. The original Beiyang government issue was minted in enormous quantities across multiple facilities, becoming the dominant trade coin in Republican China for decades. The "Fat Man" nickname — distinguishing this type from the slimmer-faced Hsien Shih Year issues — is dealer slang that stuck.
The People's Republic began producing these restrikes for the collector and bullion markets, not as circulating currency. Provenance from original 1914 dies versus later reproduction dies remains a persistent authentication concern.