China Republic Silver Dollar 1912 Li Yuan-Hung
L&M-45; K-639e; Y-321.1; WS-0091. Li Yuan Hung without hat.
Coin features the effigy of Li Yuan Hung, prominent in early Republican China, who served as the third President of the Republic of China. Li Yuan Hung first served as Vice President to Sun Yat-sen and Vice President to Yuan Shih-kai. He was then elected as President of the Republic of China after Yuan Shih-kai’s death. Nearly five years later, he would return to the office and attempt to counteract the government corruption of the Warlords Era, but he was unsuccessful.
Li Yuan Hung is presented in a three quarter left facing bust, in a military outfit, which is surrounded by a beaded border. The upper legend states: “Republic of China” with two branches of peach blossoms separating the upper and lower legends. The bottom inscription enumerates: “Coin commemorating the Change of Regime.” The reverse design sets this piece apart from seemingly similar and more numerous mintages. This example bears an error in the English inscription: in “TIIE REPUBLIC OF CHINA” the crossbar of the “H” in “THE” is missing. Below the upper legend, the lower inscription states: “ONE DOLLAR,” which is separated by a five-petalled rosette. The inner design – separated by a beaded border – shows two vertical Chinese characters (One Yuan) encompassed by an open wreath of rice and bean stalks. This wreath and its component plants symbolize the unity between North and South.