China, 1 chiao 1926

[ElleKitty]

A small silver coin I've had for some time now, that I just finally identified.  This is a ten cent piece, or 1 chiao of China, 1926.  It's a one year type, celebrating the wedding of Pu Yi.   This is a fascinating historical character; the Last Emperor or China.

[Dumanyu]

Elle,
    Very nice coin.... Y# 334. Pu Yi wedding. Unfortunately, no mintage listed.

[scottishmoney]

Why would the Republic of China issue a coin celebrating the wedding of Pu-Yi?  By 1925 he was booted out of the Forbidden City, and was made a complete commoner.  It is interesting when you tour the Forbidden City, you can find books about him, he later on became a communist and supported Communist China, well at least the propaganda in Beijing says so.

Personally I think he was a clever chameleon, going along with whomever told him what to do, he sided with the Japanese in their occupation of Manchuria(and was made Emperor of their puppet state there), then was captured by the Russians and kept in Siberia, then given back to China in 1950, and made into the Commie fool.

[ElleKitty]

Scottish, I was wondering that myself, but they made two different coins (Different denominations, same basic design) to commemorate Pu Yi's wedding.  The even weirder thing is, as best I can tell, Pu Yi married Wan Rong in either 1923 or 1924.  My source on this happens to be the Wiki, so I'm sure there is something more grounded to use as a reference, but I haven't found it yet. 

Maybe if I spoke Mandarin.

[josemartins]

Here's a link to Mr. Leung website that explains the story of this coin:
http://home.netvigator.com/~ykleungn/phoenix.htm

...and i even prefer the Bertolucci version to the "official" story about Pu Yi...

Jose B)