Welcome to today's 2nd Millennium (year 2000) treatise on the coins associated with the North Asian countries: China (including Hong Kong, Macao & Taiwan), Japan, Korea (North & South), Laos, Manchuria, Mongolia, Philippines, Thailand, and Viet Nam, CHINA: Most year 2000 coins mentioned in this week's trivia will not be dated 2000 but the compositions and designs wii be the same as the coins pictured. The lowest denomination in 2000 for Peoples Republic of China is this 18.9mm Aluminum Jiao with the denomination on the obverse and an Orchid on the reverse. This coin type was first minted in 1999: http://worldcoingallery.com/countri...Peoples Republic of China y1068 1 Jiao (1999+) Now that you know all about the Jiao, let me introduce you to the 2000: 20.5mm Brass Five Jiao which bears the denomination on the reverse: http://worldcoingallery.com/countri...ples Republic of China y329 5 Jiao (1991-1998) Oh, look, the denomination has returned to the obverse of this 1999 Nickel plated Steel Yuan which was also minted in 2000: http://worldcoingallery.com/countri...Peoples Republic of China y1069 1 Yuan (1999+) Usually, when a Chinese 10 Yaun coin is mentioned, numismatists visualize a 40mm gold or silver coin, and the next image will reveal a 40mm coin, but the composition of it is a bi-metallic Copper-nickel center in a Brass ring. Before I reveal this coin to you, let me describe it. Obverse: Rocket and city view above an industrial wheel. Reverse: Number 2 and an eye perusing a map of China AND the denomination at 6 o'clock. http://worldcoingallery.com/countri...Peoples Republic of China y1123 10 Yuan (2000) Wait! That's not all! There were more 40mm 10 Yuan Coins minted. Two are silver. Three are gold. I couldn't locate photos, but I'll describe them to you. The reverse of one of the silver (0.6666 oz. ASW) coins bears a multicolor Dragon with the denomination at 3 o'clock. The obverse bears, in great detail, a passage way allowing people to travel from one side of the Great Wall to the other side. Atop the passage section of The Wall are four pagoda-like structures representing the quarters of the sentinels and military Guards. 100,000 were minted, The other silver (1 oz. ASW) coin is a tribute to dragons. 50,000 were struck. Here's a photo: http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/coin_dr.php?image=nmc1/42-560&desc=Taiwan y560 10 Yuan (2000) In the year 2000, China created a quarter-ounce gold 25 Yuan coin as a tribute to birds. The coin's subject is multicolored. Only 8,000 were minted. Remember the Silver 2000 25 Yuan? Well a 5 0unce ASW 50 Yuan, rectangle shaped, coin was created in 2000 with the same subject (dragons) in proof only. Another tribute to dragons in 2000 is a fan-shaped half-ounce 50 Yuan gold piece. 6,600 made. A bimetallic (gold center in a silver ring) 50 Yuan coin was created (20,000) to celebrate the new Millennium, with an artist's rendition of "Y2K." There are more tributes to "Y2K" (Three Gold coins). Here's s the descriptions: The 1st gold coin (1 oz. AGW) was made to celebrate the new Millennium and actually mentions "Y2K." 50,000 were made. The 2nd gold coin (1 oz. AGW) was created to honor China's "Grotto Art." 50,000 were struck. China's 3rd 10 Yuan Gold (1 oz. AGW) Piece is a commemorative to the Goddess Guanyin and bears her likeness on it. 33,000 were minted. And, Yes, China honored "Y2K" with a 30,000 Yuan Gold (Yes! 30,000 Yuan Gold ) coin. Wow! It weighs 1000gm, is/was a whopping 160mm and contains 321.5 oz. of Gold! Obverse: China Centenary Altar. Reverse: denomination. Even China's Dragon bullion coinage in 2000 featured dragons or, at least one dragon, as this 10 Yuan silver (.666 oz. ASW) bullion coin does. When you look at the 1988 coin in the photo just imagine a scallop-shaped coin instead of a round coin and a 2000 date instead of 1988. 6,000 year 2000 proofs were minted. http://worldcoingallery.com/countri... China y174 10 Yuan (1988) Year of the Dragon Now, imagine a Fan-shaped silver (.999 oz, ASW) coin with one brick building (Shanhaiguan Gate tower of the Great Wall of China) on the obverse with two small ornamental trees fronting the building on the left. Now imagine the building was built on a shore of a large lake. Let your mind's eye now focus on the reverse of the coin which bears a fire Dragon stretched out from 7 to 1 o'clock, amongst puffs of smoke to it's left and right. Now focus on the fireball at 10 o'clock and the denomination "10 Yuan" resting at 4 o'clock. 66,000 proofs. Now we come to the "Panda" Silver Bullion Coinage. This next photo is of a 1 oz. ASW 50 Yuan coin dated 1984. That image of "The Temple of Heaven" adorning this 1984 coin's obverse is the exact design stamped on the year 2000 10 Yuan silver coin, however the "Panda" on the reverse of the 2000 coin isn't holding two bamboo branches, only one. The posture of the "Panda" on the 10 Yuan year 2000 is slightly more upright and the denomination is at 4:30 o'clock. http://worldcoingallery.com/countri... of China y76 50 Yuan (1984) Temple of Heaven Imagine a silver 100mm coin weighing 999.9775g (32.1600 oz. ASW) with the "Temple of Heaven" on the obverse and a Panda sitting on a pile of bamboo leaves adorning the reverse. If you own a Krause World Coins Catalog you can turn the pages to China (Peoples Republic) leaf through to the Silver Bullion Panda Series pages and check the images of the 200 and 300 Yuan coins. That done, and said, brings us to the Gold Bullion Panda Series, the first 2000 coin minted being a Five Yuan piece containing 0.0500 oz. ASW. The obverse bears the "Temple to Heaven" and the reverse bears the "Panda sitting on leaves." This coin has large and small date varieties. The coins minted by the China Mint have mirror fields whereas those authorized to be struck outside China have frosted fields. The 5 Yuan Gold Bullion (Panda Series) coin minting was coincided with a 10 Yuan Gold Coin. Here's a photo of a 1990 Gold 10 Yuan. The obverse of a 2000 dated coin is the same. When looking at the reverse just imagine the "Panda" sitting on leaves facing left without the tree in the background. Large and small date varieties exist. http://worldcoingallery.com/countri...s Republic of China y237 10 Yuan (1990) Panda A 100 Yuan Gold Bullion Panda Series coin was, also, minted. Date varieties exist and coins with mirror and frosted fields exist. China certainly produced lots of Bullion Coins including a Gold Bullion Lunar Series. A companion Gold Bullion Lunar Series 100 Yuan coin was struck on scallop-shaped planchets containing 0.4580 ounces of Gold. Two other must-have coins for Chinese Gold Coin collectors would certainly be the elusive 500 Yuan (5 oz. AGW) rectangular-shaped "Year of the Dragon" piece and the scallop-shaped 10,000 Yuan (32.1575 oz. AGW) "Year of the Snake" piece. Both were struck only in proof. The Lunar Series was also minted in Platinum Bullion and the only one shown in Krause's World Coins Catalog is a 100 Yuan (1 oz. APW) coin. Obv. Temple of Heaven. Rev. 2 Floating Dragons. HONG KONG: Since 1998, its currency is the same as China's. LAOS Laos did not produce nor, did the country ever, authorize the minting of circulation coins in the year 2000, however it made arrangements for certain Proof Coins to be made. All proofs bear the State Emblem on their reverses. There are no photos of the proofs, but I am presenting a photo of a 1985 50 Kip so you can see/know what the Emblem on the obverses of the coins look like: http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/coin.php?image=img15/104-41&desc=Laos km41 50 Kip (1985) I will try to describe the reverses of the different Year 2000 Proofs: This first coin is a 5,000 Kip, 35.1mm silver (0.4863 oz. ASW) Proof and is the only Laotian coin made as a tribute to the "Third Millennium" by placing a world map with the date 2000/1999 on its reverse. The 2nd coin is a 5,000 Kip, 39mm silver (0.5948 oz. ASW) Proof honoring the Silver Dragon Fish by placing an image of the Dragon Fish turning to its right on the reverse. 10,000 minted. The third coin's a 5,000 Kip, 39mm silver (0.5948 oz. ASW) Proof honoring the Red Dragon Fish by placing a red color Fish on its reverse. 10,000 minted The 4th coin's a 5,000 Kip, 39mm silver (0.5948 oz. ASW) Proof honoring the Golden Dragon Fish by placing a jumping fish on its reverse. Estimated mintage of 4,000 coins. The 5th coin's a 10,000 Kip, 14mm gold (0.0400 oz. AGW) Proof, also, honoring the Golden Dragon Fish by placing a jumping fish on its reverse. Mintage unknown. Our 6th coin's a 50,000 Kip, 32.2mm gold (0.2497 oz. AGW) Proof honoring the Red Dragon Fish by placing a Red Dragon Fish on its reverse. 3,000 minted. 'The final (7th) coin is a 100,000 Kip, 27mm gold (0.4999 oz. AGW) Proof honoring the Golden Dragon Fish with a multicolored holographic jumping fish on its reverse. 3,000 minted. MACAO Macao became a possession of China in 1988, but authorized the minting of silver and gold proof coins in subsequent years including the year 2000. All the proof coins minted in 2000 have the Cathedral Facade on their obverses. I couldn;t find any pohotos of the proof coins, but so you know what the obverses look like, here is a photo of a 1997 10 Patacas coin. I'll give a brief description of the year 2000 coin reverses: http://worldcoingallery.com/countri...3&desc=Macao km83 10 Patacas (1997) Cathedral Here's a description of the lowest denomination produced in 2000: This first coin was not only struck in proof but 1,000 Uncirculated NCLT coins were struck. It is a 38.6mm 100 Patacas silver (0.88410 ASW) coin honoring the "Year of the Dragon" by placing a dragon on the reverse. 4,000 were minted. This "Year of the Dragon Coin" is a 19.3mm gold (0.1176 oz. AGW) Proof (2,600 minted) 250 Patacas coin with a dragon its reverse. This, Proof only (2,500), "Year of the Dragon" 22.05mm gold (0.2355 oz AGW) 500 Patecas is a companion coin to the 250 Patacas. This final Macao "Year of the Dragon" 28.4mm gold (0..4719 oz. AGW) 1,000 Patacas coin was struck in UNC (500) and Proof (4,000). TAIWAN: A "Year of the Dragon" coin was minted in 2000 composed of Copper-nickel. The obverse side has the denomination on it. http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/coin_dr.php?image=nmc1/42-560&desc=Taiwan y560 10 Yuan (2000) The only other coin minted in Taiwan during 2000 was a special commemorative 200 Yuan Silver (1.0069 oz. ASW, 38mm) coin. It commemorates the "Second Popular Vote Presidential Election" and bears the busts of the President and Vice-President while the reverse displays the National Arms above a 7-line inscription, (1st line) COMMEMORATING (2nd line) THE 20 MAY 2000 INAUGURATION OF (3rd line) PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT (4th line) OF (5th line) THE RUPUBLIC OF CHINA (6th line) THE SECOND ELECTED BY (7th line) POPULAR VOTE. JAPAN: Aluminum Yen This photo, courtesy of Don's World Coin Gallery, shows a coin that was first minted in year 2 (1990) of the Emperorship of Akihito (Heisei). The type was struck every year through 2000 since, Business and proof versions were struck. 11,800,000 for circulation and 226,000 proofs http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/coin.php?image=img2/97-95_2&desc=Japan y95.2 1 Yen (1990+) This Brass Five Yen Coin, also, was minted from 1990 through 2000. 8,804,000 for circulation and 226,000 proofs http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/coin.php?image=img2/97-96_2&desc=Japan y96.2 5 Yen (1990+) This Bronze Ten Yen saw a circulation mintage of 314,800,000 and the same number of proofs (226,000) as the other coins were minted in 2000: http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/coin.php?image=nmc3/97-97&desc=Japan y97 10 Yen (1989+) This Copper-nickel 50 Yen saw a mintage of 6,800,000 business strikes and 226,000 proofs in 2000: http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/coin.php?image=nmc3/97-101&desc=Japan y101 50 Yen (1989+) This Copper-nickel 100 Yen experienced a circulation mintage of 171,800,000 and a proof mintage of (yes, you know - 226,000): http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/coin.php?image=nmc3/97-98&desc=Japan y98 100 Yen (1989+) This Nickel-brass 500 Yen was the last coin minted by Japan in 2000. Besides the 226,00 proofs for sets, a whopping 595,746,000 business strikes were minted: http://worldcoingallery.com/countri...=nmc3/97-99&desc=Japan y99 500 Yen (1989-1999) KOREA: is divided into two separate countries: NORTH KOREA: Wow! North Korea did not mint any "coins for circulation" in 2000. It did auithorize 43 different proof coins in 2000 for a select clientel for resale to coin collectors and investors around the world. There are no photos of any 2000 North Korean Coins. Since my descriptions would bore you to nauseum, I will forego that tedious task to spare you the agony. SOUTH KOREA: This 17.2mm Aluminum Won has been minted since 1983: http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/coin.php?image=img3/158-31&desc=South Korea km31 1 Won (1983+) 1983, also ushered in this 20.4mm Five Won: http://worldcoingallery.com/countri...mc1/158-32&desc=South Korea km32 5 Won (1983+) Also, 2000 saw the minting of this thick number 32.86mm Ten Won http://worldcoingallery.com/countri...58-33_2&desc=South Korea km33.2 10 Won (1991+) and a thin number Ten Won. A 21.16mm Copper-nickel 50 Won was struck honoring the F.A.O.: http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/coin.php?image=img3/158-34&desc=South Korea km34 50 Won (1983+) This 24mm Copper-nickel 100 Won honors Admiral Yi Soon-Shin http://worldcoingallery.com/countri...8-35_1&desc=South Korea km35.2 100 Won (1984+) The following image is of a 26.5mm Copper-nickel 500 Won: http://worldcoingallery.com/countri...3/158-27&desc=South Korea km27 500 Won (1982+) The next coin of Japan's year 2000, does not have a photo. It is a bi-metallic (Copper-Aluminum-Nickel center in a Copper-nickel ring). It's subject is the "New Millennium". The obverse is adorned with an Astronomy Observation Instrument and the reverse bears a stylized design. The final Japanese 2000 coin has no photo. It is a 38mm Bronze coin celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Bank of Korea. MANCHURIA: Manchuria doesn''t mint its own coins. MONGOLIA: Mongolia didn't produce coins, in the year 2000. PHILIPPINES: In 1995 the Philippines changed the composition of the Sentimo from Aluminum to Copper Plated Steel. The design was changed too (The denomination was placed on the obverse and the seal of the "Central Bank" was put on the reverse). Even though the photo shows a date of 1995 this type coin was struck for circulation in 2000: http://worldcoingallery.com/countri...2-273&desc=Philippines km273 1 Sentimo (1995+) In 1995 the composition of the Five Sentimos was changed to Copper Plated Steel. A hole was punched through the center of the coin and the legend "1993 BANGKO CENTRAL NG PILIPINAS" was placed on the reverse. The dated 1998 coin in this photo is representative of a 2000 coin: http://worldcoingallery.com/countri...-268&desc=Philippines km268 5 Sentimos (1995+) The year 1995 saw another change in another minor coin. The Central Bank Seal was placed on the reverse of the 25 Sentimos and the obverse bears the denomination, but the composition remained Brrass. This 1999 example pictured here is exactly the same type as a 2000 dated coin: http://worldcoingallery.com/countri...271&desc=Philippines km271 25 Sentimos (1995+) The Piso of 1992 was one of those "single year types" commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Battle of Katgitikan. Here's that coin: http://worldcoingallery.com/countri...km260 1 Piso (1992,1996) Battle of Kagitingan It was/is made of Nickel Clad Steel. No Pisos were struck in '93 and '94. In '95 minting of Piso coins resumed. Copper-nickel coins were struck from '95 through 2000. Jose Rizal was put on the obverse facing the denomination. The Central Bank's Seal is on the reverse. http://worldcoingallery.com/countri...-269&desc=Philippines km269 1 Piso (1995-1997) The first bi-metallic Philippines coin was minted in 2000. It was/is a Ten Pisos coin and is composed of a Brass Center within a Copper-nickel Ring. It's 26.5mm in size, OBV.: conjoined busts of Mabini and Bonifacio. REV.: Central Bank Seal. Here's the photo: http://worldcoingallery.com/countri...es km278 10 Piso (2000+) Mobini and Bonifacio THAILAND: Thailand's lowest denomination in the year 2000 is the Brass 50 Satang (1/2 Baht) This type coin was 1st struck in 1987. Just imagine this with a date of 2000: http://worldcoingallery.com/countri...5-203&desc=Thailand y203 50 Satang (1988-1995) Copper-Nickel Baht: http://worldcoingallery.com/countri.../175-183&desc=Thailand y183 1 Baht (1986-1997) Copper-Nickel Clad Copper Five Baht: http://worldcoingallery.com/countri.../175-219&desc=Thailand y219 5 Baht (1988-1995) In the Ten Baht denominations, four varieties were produced in Bi-metallic (Brass Center in Copper-nickel Ring). Here's one honoring the "Army Medical Dept".: http://worldcoingallery.com/countri...hailand y354 10 Baht (2000) Army Medical Dept. Here's one honoring "80th Anniversary of Commerce Ministry": http://worldcoingallery.com/countri...8 10 Baht (2000) 80 yrs. Ministry of Commerce Here's one honoring "100th Birthday Princess Mother": http://worldcoingallery.com/countri... y361 10 Baht (2000) 100 yrs. Princess Mother Here's the 4th one which honors the "National Economic and Social Development Board": http://worldcoingallery.com/countri...Baht (2000) 50 yrs. Economic and Social Board There are three 20 Baht Type coins. (no photos available). One is a 21.9mm Copper-nickel coin honoring the "King's 72nd Birthday". One is a 32mm Copper-nickel coin honoring "Asian Development Bank Board Meeting". The 3rd one's a 32mm Copper-nickel coin honoring "100th Birthday Princess Mother". Three silver 50 Baht Coins were struck in 2000. One is a 38.7 silver (0.5948 oz. ASW) Proof (8,500 made) coin honoring "Year of the Dragon" (1 Dragon on reverse). One is a 38.7 silver (0.5948 oz. ASW) Proof (8,500) coin honoring "Year of the Dragon" (2 Dragons on reverse). The 3rd is a 38.7 silver (0.5948 oz. ASW) Proof (8,500) coin honoring "Year of the Dragon" (REV: Dragon with gold-plated Pearl). One 22mm gold (0.2500 oz. AGW) 100 Baht Proof (1,000 minted) coin honors the "Year of the Dragon" (REV: Dragon with Golden Pearl). One 35mm silver (0.6587 oz. ASW) 600 Baht Proof honors the "King's 72nd Birthday". One 55mm gold (5 oz. AGW) 2,500 Baht Uncirculated (500 minted for sets only) honors "Year of the Dragon" (2 Dragons on reverse with Hologram Pearl) The final Thai year 2000 coin is a 26mm gold (0.4340 oz, AGW) 6,000 Baht Proof honoring the "King's 72nd Birthday." VIET NAM: In 2000 Viet Nam only produced Proof coins in Silver and gold. The obverse of all these proofs, no matter the denomination, was/is the same. I couldn't located photos of the 2000 dated coins, but so you see what the obverse looks like. It is the National Arms design of Viet Nam. I'll try to describe the coins; reverse: http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/coin.php?image=img12/190-72&desc=Viet Nam km72 1000 Dong (2003) Now that you know what the obverses look like, here's a description of the reverses of each denomination struck in 2000: The 1st coin is a 5000 Dong Gold (13.92.mm 0.0400 oz.AGW) coin. The reverse bears a Radiant Sun Burst of 3 long rays at 10:00, 8 smaller rays tapering down and tapering back up, followed by two more long rays ending at 1:00. Across the top of all the 8 smaller rays are the words "RONG VIET NAM." A Dragon in a fetal position facing left adorns the center of the coin. The text at the coin's bottom along the edge runs from 7:00 to 4:00. It reads " YEAR OF THE DRAGON 2000." Our next reverse description is on a silver (39.7mm 0.5948 oz, ASW) 10,000 Dong coin. Reverse is same as the silver 5000 Dong described above. Our 3rd coin's reverse bears another Dragon, but the position is different and there is no Radiant Sun. This Dragon is in full multi-color and its front feet are near 7:00. Two curves (1 left, 1 right) place the Dragon's rear feet at 3:00. The head of the Dragon is in the center of the coin. Its tail curves to the left from its rear feet into a loop and stretches to the rim of the coin at 9:00. A fireball rests about1/2mm from the Dragon's mouth. At the top of the coin, against the rim, is the legend "RONG VIET NAM." At the bottom along the rim reads "YEAR OF THE DRAGON." This coin is of the same silver composition as the 2nd coin. Our next coin is a "YEAR OF THE DRAGON" silver 10,000 Dong coin too., but there are two Dragons on the reverse. The dragons are head down, facing each other, one on each side of the coin. The legend is at the top; the "YEAR OF THE DRAGON" text at bottom. Contrary to what I said earlier about the obverse of all these coins, this 20,000 Gold (quarter-ounce AGW) Coin has a single dragon (a smaller version of the dragon on the reverse of our 3rd Silver Coin). The reverse is different than all the others, in that Radiant Sun Beams surround a small fetus-position Dragon facing left from the very center of the coin. You can imagine the details of the sizes of the dragons when you realize the coin is only 22mm. Viet Nam's last coin minted in 2000 is a 27mm, 1/2 ounce AGW 50,000 Dong piece. The National Arms has been returned to the obverse of this coin. The dragon described on the small 22m Gold coin above also adorns the reverse of this coin, but because this coin is larger (27mm), the dragon is a wee bit larger. Please let me know if you enjoyed this week's trivia. If you can add some photos I failed to find, please do so. If you can add or correct any content of this trivia, please do so. Clinker
