It's from Taiwan not the mainland. That's Chiang Kai Shek depicted on the obverse. Sorry, I can't say if it has any silver content.
It sure looks like KM#553, a cu-ni 10 Yuan, but it is clearly dated Republic Year 84 (1995). According to Krause (2008 35th Ed.), Republic Year 83 (1994) was the last year of mintage for that design, and the following year a completely different design was used to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Taiwan's liberation from Japanese occupation. (Not that Krause is always correct, but ???)
According to the 37th edition KM 553 was made every year from 1981 thru 2000. There were two different 10 Yuan coins issued in 1995, 1999, and 2000. The regular issue (KM 553) and KM 555, 558, and 560 respectively. The latter three may not have been for circulation though. They are only listed in Unc and no mintage figures are given.
I guess the 35th Ed. just wasn't properly updated. Gee, an omission in Krause? What next - the Cubs winning the World Series, or the Rams winning a game?
Correction on the 1995 NT$10, there are two minted in circulation for that year! There is the 50th anniversary of Taiwan's return to China--with a picture of Taiwan on the back--and a regular one like the series. The picture is of the regular one in the series. It is the only year that two coins were circulated for any denomination that I know of in Taiwan. The other year of different ones were 1999, 2000, and 2001--with "coins" on one, dragon on one, and Dr. Sen on one. These are circulated commemorative coins. The content for the whole series was 75% copper 25% nickel. Years 1998 and 2002 were only made for mint sets. Same content for the NT$5 and inner circle of the bimetal NT$20. All ROC bimetal coins has this content for the "silver" portion.
After reviewing my note, I must admit that I really don't know if uncirculated coins were issued for those commemorative circulated coins other than for year 84 (1995) which I have seen and collected from circulation. The NT$10 shown was first issued in year 70 (1981) and I have a 97 (2008) as well as all circulated in between except for year 87 and 91 [1998 & 2002] but have seen them in the mint sets. Have recently been trying to determine what mint sets are available and only have the range for years 82 to 93 [1993-2004] as complete sets. Beginning for 90 [2001] they also include the NT$20 which is only available in circulation for that first year. They also include NT$.50 or NT$1/2 which is no long in circulation but still included in mint sets. These sets match the size of those issued for years 70, 75 & 77 (only these years were circulated). Anyone have information on the Taiwan issued mint sets, which years they were issued and each year's contents??? Also if NT$50 was circulated in 88 (1999)? Have seen where 100 million were minted. Usually mint sets only have 30 million or so. Any help?
It is a yuan... no doubt about that. Above the 10 on the back, the Chinese character on the left is Chinese for "yuan." To the right is Chinese for "ten." It is read right to left--10 yuan!
