Soviet Republic - 5 Cents, var. 1

CHINA: CHINESE SOVIET REPUBLIC: AE 5 fen, ND (1932), Y-507, original strike, issue of the Kiangsi Soviet. The Chinese Soviet Republic is often referred to in historical sources as the Jiangxi Soviet (after its largest component territory, the Jiangxi-Fujian Soviet). It was established in November 1931 by future Communist Party of China leader Mao Zedong, General Zhu De and others, and it lasted until 1937.
Documented for the first time, here in the West, are the 5 major varieties of Soviet Republic 5 Cent pieces. These 'minor' varieties are documented in some Chinese references (see our Library). While KM lists these as reeded/unreeded, I am nearly convinced that all of them were supposed to go through the reeding process and that some few slipped past totally or were only partially reeded. All of them in this Museum, except THIS one, show various degrees of reeding, some hardly detectable. Also, my specimen here weighs the most of all of them at 8.03 g.
There a 5 'minor' (KM) varieties based upon the position of Hainan Island in relation to the mainland. Other features of variation exist, such as in the wheat stalks, but these are more difficult to document. The only reference I've seen that document these is the "Soviet Chinese Coppers" from the 'Directory of Chinese Copper Coins' by Hua Guangpu (available below).
This, Var. 1, has the mainland OVERLAPPING the outline of Hainan Island. As we go successively to Var. 4 the island moves further away from the mainland, until we get to the v. Scarce Var. 5 where the island has disappeared altogether. Some have tried to imply that the island is Taiwan and that the final dissapearance was a metaphor for the loss of the Province to the Kuomintang. That's a nice story but the position of the island clearly shows it to be Hainan Is. which is very close to the mainland and much further south. The Koumintang did not fully escape from the mainland to Taiwan until 1948/49.

Here are a number of RARE articles on Communist Chinese Soviet coins & notes from the Moneta Library:
VIEW & DOWNLOAD:
Soviet Chinese Copper Coins ("Little Brown Book") - Hua Guangpu
[ link ]
Soviet Coins Intriguing - Hogan
[ link ]
Chinese Soviet Coins and Notes - Raeburn (1937!)
[ link ]
Chinese Communist Armies Silver Coins - Kann
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The premier articles on Early Chinese Soviet issues are the invaluable documents below. It covers the history, coins and notes from 1927-1935 and includes photos and a map: (with color photos; in 3 parts);
The Money of Communist China - Sandrock (3 part series)
Part I: [ link ]
Part II: [ link ]
Part III: [ link ]

The Comprehensive Catalog of Chinese Copper Coins ("SOVIET" extract; color illus.) - Duan
[ link ]