Off-Center Minting error! Yuan Shi Kai, Hung Shuan Memento Hunan, 1915, 10 Cash
Yuan Shi Kai
Weight: 5.8 grams, Size: 28 mm; Material: Copper Off-Center Minting error; 25% off-center Year 1 (1915) Hunan province Y# 401 Obverse: Crossed flags 當 幣念紀國開 (Commemorative of Founding) Reverse: Plants Lettering: Edge: Smooth
Hung Shuan Memento Copper Coin In December 1915, or the 4th year of the Republic. Yuan Shih Kai declared the reinstatement of the Empire of China and decided to rename the calendar Hung Shuan to replace the Republic beginning on the coming New Year's Day. The Hunan Mint was ordered by Tong Hsiang Ming, General of Hunan Province to mint this copper coin. The obverse side bears the words meaning "Every copper coin equivalent to ten cash" with floral decorations on either side, circumscribed with the 1st year of the reign of Hung Shuan and the words meaning "Coin for marking the beginning of the reign of Hung Shuan", flanked by the name of Hunan Province. In the center of the reverse side is the design of good harvest, circumscribed with the English words: "THE FIRST YEAR OF HUNG SHUAN" on the upper part and "TEN CASH" on the lower part.
Yuan Shi Kai (1859AD-1916AD) was born in Hsiang-Cheng of Honan Province in the 9th year of the Hsien Fung reign. In 1882, he followed the Commander of Anhui Army, Wu Chang-Ch'ing went to Korea to help the Korean King training a new imperial army. In 1884, he was recalled back to China. By the help of Li Hung-chang , he became a 3rd-grade official in charge of training a modern army at Hsiao-Chan near Tientsin in 1895. Later, he was promoted to the position of assistant minister in charged of military training, as he pretended to support institutional reforms. In 1897, he promoted as the Governor of Shantung Province, and two years later he was promoted again to be the Governor of Chihli Province. In 1901 he promoted as the Minister of Peiyang, gradually becoming the leader of the Peiyang warlords, as he won the trust of Empress Dowager Szu Hsi. Yuan took part in the suppression of Boxers insurgent in 1900. In 1907, Yuan was summoned to the court to became a Grand Minister of the Privy Council and Minister of Foreign Affairs. After Dowager Empress died, he was stripped of all his offices in 1909.
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