TRIVIA: Oldest Settlement's 1st silver coin

Clinker · 08-03-2009, 02:07 PM

The first silver coin of Macau (traditional Chinese "Macao") was the 1952 Five Patacas.

I want to provide some of the history of Macau/Macao so you will know why the coin bears what it bears.

Portugal coveted a percentage of the Oriental Trade bonanza being exploited by Spain, Italy, Britain and other European Nations, so in 1557, Portugal established a Province where a peninsula emerged from the depths of the deep harbor where the Pearl River empties into the South China Sea. They named the Province Macau and included two nearby mini islands: Taipa and Coloane. Did that date (1557) grab your attention? Yes! Macau/Macao was the first (was the oldest) European settlement in the far East.

Of course you know the Chinese never give up territory easily, but the authorities tolerated the new Western settlers establishing themselves in Macau/Macao. However, China never recognized Portugese sovereignty over the area, so Chinese law was in control. The settlers began to complain and in 1849 the Portugese dismantled the Chinese Customs House, ousted the government employees from the area and declared independence of the port. The Manchou Government formerly recognized the right of Portugal to perpetual occupation of Macau/Macao in 1887 (38 years later).

In 1987 (100 years later) China and Portugal agreed Macau/Macao would revert to a Chinese Territory in 1999. That agreement was carried out in December,1999 and Macau/Macao became a special administration zone of China.

While Macau/Macao was still an occupation property of Portugal the decision to create its own coinage became a reality in 1952.

The decimal system was chosen as the basis for the new coinage (100 Avos = 1 Pataca) and soon bronze, brass and copper-nickel Avos jingled in the pockets and purses of the populace inhabiting mid 1900s Macau/Macao, alongside silver One and Five Patacas.

When you see the Five Patacas photo courtesy of Don's World Coin Gallery please note one side of the coin bears the National Arms of Portugal while the other side features the Arms of Macau/Macao. Portugese descendents argue the Portugal Arms side is the obverse, but Chinese descendents maintain the Macao Arms side denotes the obverse:

http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/coine.php?image=nmc2/112-5&desc=Macao%20km5%205%20Patacas%20(1952)&query=Ma ca*%20km%205

Hope you enjoyed...

Clinker

Welcome to Coin Talk! Register Now, it's easy and FREE!