Szechuan-Shenzi Soviet $1 - Museum Gallery

While lightly struck this one is especially scarce because it is uncirculated with an original all over grey tone. The planchet is a bit thin and this is what accounts for the weak strike and low weight. This coin is an authentic piece of the 'medium star' variety. While KM shows 6 varieties, Wenchao (Shanghai Museum book) illustrates 9 varieties. Many more varieties exist within the star size (small, medium, & large) types. Other, very rare, star types are documented; these are types with outlined, pentagram outlined, and large decorative stars w/thinner arms.
This coin was made by the Szechuan-Shensi Soviet Army Base Camp (Sichuan-Shannxi) on the outskirts of Tongjiang city in Szechuan Province in December of 1933 and issued by the Worker-Peasant Bank of the Szechuan-Shenzi Provincial Government. The reverse side bears the value of the coin "one yuan" in the center, circumscribed with the characters denoting "Chinese Soviet Republic" and the name of the mint, which are separated by five-pointed stars. The obverse side features the designs of five-pointed stars, sickle, hammer and globe and the characters meaning "Unite, the proletariat of the world" and the year 1934, which are separated by four-petal flowers. There are many varieties according to the differences in the design of the five-pointed stars, characters and the hammer and sickle. Please be sure to examine the other examples here in the Moneta Museum Gallery - the only place on the Web to present this many varieties. Please upload & describe your Chinese Soviet coins here too!

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
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Soviet Coins Intriguing - Hogan
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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
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