Comprising: four commemorative 22 karat gold coins each depicting the Momuments of Tian An Men, the Monument to the People's Heroes, the Great Hall of the People and the Chairman Mao Memorial Hall, to the obverse of the national emblem of the People's Republic of China, by the People's bank of China authorised by the state Council, celebrating the 30th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, each with a face value of Renminbi 400 Yuan, numbered 13851, diameter: 27mm. Accompanied by a carved wooden box and a certificate issued by the People's Bank of China. (4)
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Commemorative Gold Coins in Celebration of the 30th Anniversary of the Founding of the People’s Republic of China
In 1979, the People’s Bank of China was authorized by the State Council to issue commemorative gold coins and silver coins, to mark the 30th anniversary of the founding of New China. Hence, the “Commemorative Gold Coins in Celebration of the 30th Anniversary of the Founding of the People’s Republic of China” became the first set of precious-metal commemorative coins ever produced by the country in modern age. Not only was the occasion one of great significance, it also marked a momentous milestone in the history of Chinese commemorative currency.
On 1 October 1979, a batch of 22K commemorative gold coins was issued. Every set consisted of four coins, each of which was half ounce in weight, with a denomination of $400, a 27 mm diameter and circular in shape. A total of 70,000 sets were targeted for distribution. Produced by China Mint Company, the obverse design of each coin is the national emblem of the People’s Republic of China, accompanied by the words “30th Anniversary of the Founding of the PRC” and “1949-1979.” The reverse design is respectively, the image of Tiananmen; the Monument to the People’s Heroes; Great Hall of the People and Chairman Mao Memorial Hall.
A thematic approach, along with a mirror-like finishing technique, was adopted in the minting of the commemorative coins. Great care was exercised by the authorities issuing them. However, the actual volume of distribution fell short of the 70,000 sets announced. Adding to this, the launch of the commemorative coins met with a tepid response. Upon release in the open market, many of the commemorative coins were melted down as buyers planned to sell the base material so as to profit from the spiraling gold prices internationally in 1981. For this reason, only very few of such commemorative coins have remained intact. A complete commemorative coin set is a rare find. Growing progressively in collectible value, the coins will continue to be highly sought after by collectors recognizing their precious, historical value.