〔2009〕No.13

The People’s Bank of China is to issue a series of gold and silver commemorative coins of Chinese classical literary works—Outlaws of the Marsh (series I) on August 18, 2009. The series consists of 5 coins, including 2 gold coins and 3 silver coins, all of which are the legal tender of the People’s Republic of China.

I. Design of the coins

i. obverse design

The series of gold and silver commemorative coins bear the common obverse of the National Emblem of the People’s Republic of China with traditional Chinese ornaments around it, the title of the People’s Republic of China and the year date.

ii. reverse design

 The reverse of 1/3 oz gold coin depicts the image of Songjiang (partly colored), Chinese characters of “Timely rain--Songjiang” and the face value.

The reverse of 5 oz rectangular gold coin features the image of the clever capturing of the royal birthday gifts(partly colored), Chinese characters of “The Clever Capturing of the Royal Birthday Gifts” and the face value.

The reverse of one of the 1 oz silver coin depicts the scene of Lu Da’s uprooting a weeping willow (partly colored), Chinese characters of “Tattooed Monk—Lu Da” and the face value; the reverse of the other 1 oz silver commemorative coin depicts the image of Linchong’s mounting towards Liangshan in a snowy night (partly colored), Chinese characters of “Panther Head--Linchong” and the face value.

The reverse of 5 oz rectangular silver coin depicts Zhangshun’s holding Huang Wenbing captive (partly colored), Chinese characters of “Zhangshun’s holding Huang Wenbing captive” and the face value.

II. Specifications and mintages of the coins

  1/3 oz round gold coin is proof in quality, 23 mm in diameter, 150 Yuan in face value, 99.9% in fineness and contains 1/3 troy ounce of pure gold. The total mintage is 30,000 pieces.

  5 oz rectangular gold coin is proof in quality, 64 mm×40mm in dimension, 2000 Yuan in face value, 99.9% in fineness and contains 5 troy ounces of pure gold. The total mintage is 800 pieces.

    1 oz round silver coin is proof in quality (2 pieces), 40 mm in diameter, 10 Yuan in face value, 99.9% in fineness and contains 1 troy ounce of pure silver. The total mintage for each is 60,000 pieces.

5 oz rectangular silver coin is proof in quality, 80 mm×50mm in dimension, 50 Yuan in face value, 99.9% in fineness and contains 5 troy ounces of pure silver. The total mintage is 10,000 pieces.

III. The series of gold and silver commemorative coins is jointly minted by Shenzhen Guobao Mint and Shanghai Mint, and solely distributed by China Gold Coin Incorporation.

                                                      The People’s Bank of China

                                                                   July 30, 2009

1/3 oz round gold coin