Yuan Shikai Dollar

Yuan Shikai's portrait graced a silver dollar for the first time in Chinese history, marking a abrupt break from centuries of imperial anonymity on coins.

This dollar, struck from 1914 to 1921 at various mints including Tianjin, featured his profile on the obverse and Chinese script on the reverse. Most were minted on .720 fine silver planchets, often sourced from recycled foreign coins to meet wartime demands. Variations exist, like those with or without the mint mark, but proofs are rare and command attention among specialists.

Exact mintage figures are murky; records from that era vanished amid the chaos of civil war. I've seen fakes that fooled even careful eyes, so always check for the telltale edge reeding. As for myths about it bringing prosperity, well, Yuan's reign didn't last long. That says enough.

Counterfeits aside, it's a solid piece for any collection, if you can find one that's circulated lightly.