Yuan Shi Kai silver dollar (1914)

Yuan Shi Kai silver dollar (1914)

The Yuan Shi Kai silver dollar coin is one of the most commonly found Chinese silver dollar around the world, but paradoxically, there is few accurate information available about in English. Called 袁大头 in China (literaly “Yuan [Shi Kai] big head”), and “Fatman dollar” in the United States, this coin was designed to put an end to the chaotic state of the Chinese monetary system and further the political agenda of Yuan Shi Kai, who had just taken over the function of President of the newly born Republic of China.

Introduced for Christmas 1914, the Yuan Shi Kai silver dollar had a standardized purity (0.89000 silver) and weight (26.4000g, .7555 oz ASW). Like the previous central imperial issues, this new currency would have to compete against the chinese silver dollars already in circulation, foreign trade dollars, and resistance from provinces using primarily copper currency or paper money. The introduction of the Yuan Shi Kai dollar coincided with the withdrawal and melting of about 280 million dragon dollars. The remaining dragon dollars, whose fineness was not always up to the standard, could be exchanged free of charge for the new Yuan Shi Kai dollar in all Bank of China, Bank of Communications branches or official provincial banks.

These political measures helped the new currency to gain traction, but at the beginning of World War I, the Mexican dollar was still trading at a premium against chinese dollars, due to its use as a means of payment for exports. It is only after the War caused exports to plummet than the Yuan Shi Kai dollar was able to replace the Mexican dollar. The loss of the export markets also undermined the faith in the interprovincial paper money, which relied on external demand for local products, and caused the collapse of local copper currencies.

Mexican dollar

Mexican dollar

These economical factors contributed to the outstanding success of the Yuan Shi Kai dollar, which gradually penetrated even the most remote provinces of China. In 1924, a survey  conducted by the Shanghai Bank found that of the estimated 960 million silver dollar in circulation in China, about 750 million were Yuan Shi Kai dollars.

Like the imperial dragon dollars before it, the Yuan Shi Kai dollar was minted in the Central Mint in Tianjin, and provincial mints were given official sets of dies. Due to its success, the “Fatman dollar” was minted during a longer time than any of its predecessor, and in much greater quantity, so the worn out dies eventually had to be retouched or re-engraved. This lead to a lot of dies varieties, some of which became very popular amongst coin collectors.

 

Scarce Die Variations: the 1914 Yuan Shi Kai Dollar (3rd Year of the Republic of China)



The 1914 Yuan Shih Kai dollar can be easily identified, even if you can not read Chinese, because it has only six characters on the obverse. All subsequent strikes have seven, due to the addition of the character “造” (made). This series offers some of the most interesting die differences.

T edge

T edge

"Western Eagle" edge

"Western Eagle" edge

The Central Mint in Tientsin issued some early pattern coins as a trial. Some of these coins have an ornamented edge, with a “T” like pattern (T字边), other have an edge similar to the one of the then popular Mexican dollar that this new currency sought to replace (鹰洋边, “Western Eagle” edge). These coins are the scarcest and most expensive.

 

L.Giorgi signature

L.Giorgi signature

Some of these trial coins also feature the signature of the italian engraver, L. Giorgi, who designed the coin. Most of the other die variations have been produced by provincial mints, and can usually be identified by looking at some details of the Yuan Shi Kai portrait. The design of the eyes and the 華 character (second starting from the right) are very different on the Kansu Mint die.

The coins issued by the Gansu Mint have a lower silver content than other Yuan Shi Kai dollar. They therefore circulated at a discount at the time, but ironically they are now more expensive than regular dollars due to their relative scarcity. The Gansu Mint also produced some coins with a custom die featuring the province name, which were quickly withdrawn by the government. This is now one of the most expensive versions of the Yuan Shi Kai dollar.

Kansu Yuan Shih Kai dollar (genuine)

Kansu Yuan Shih Kai dollar (genuine)

There is many more popular types amongst collectors, like the “O” die (O版), the “O die with triangular yuan character” (O版三角圆), or the “long leaves” dollar, all of which will be the object of another post…

69 Responses to “The Yuan Shi Kai Silver Dollar (Part I)”

  1. Ganesh says:

    Dear sir,
    I have a The Yuan Shi Kai Silver Dollar (Part I) The wieght is 30 grams. It was given to me by my father. Please contact

  2. Dragon Dollar says:

    Hello, you can use the Appraisal form on my blog to submit pictures of your coins. However, if the third stroke was not simply worn out, the coin is most likely fake.

  3. Dragon Dollar says:

    Hello Ganesh, please use the Appraisal form to submit pictures of your coin, or give me a contact e-mail address.

  4. Ganesh says:

    My E-mai ID is ********@yahoo.com. i have got a this dollar more then 2. I want to know about this dollar more information.

  5. Dragon Dollar says:

    I redacted the e-mail address in your original comment to protect your privacy.

  6. Anonymous says:

    i have this coin.can email me vincentliew777@gmail.com

  7. juanesisto says:

    hola cuanto seria el valor de esas monedas tengo 4 mopnedas de esas y algunas de otro tipo me recomendarias algun sitio para poder venderlas

  8. Anonymous says:

    i HAVE A FATMAN SILVER DOLLAR IN VERY GOOD CONDITION. CAN YOU GIVE ME AN APPROXIMATE VALUE ?
    THANK YOU

  9. Juan says:

    Hello, I have a Yuan Shi Kay 1914 Dollar,It has about 39 mm in diameter, 2.5 to 2.6 mm thickness and It weighs 26.83 gs. Is the weight correct or is it overweight?

  10. Dragon Dollar says:

    Hello Juan, the weight and dimensions are correct.

  11. Juan espinoza says:

    Tengo la moneda yuan shi kay como le puedo aser para checar si es la original yo la veo igual

  12. Lilia says:

    Hi i have 2 coins ones is a yuan shi kay and the other one has a dragon on it how can i know the worth?

  13. Dragon Dollar says:

    Hello, you can send me pictures of your coin through the free appraisal form:
    http://www.dragondollar.com/coins/coin-appraisal-what-is-your-chinese-coin-worth/
    You are also welcome to contact me on Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/DragonDollar/

  14. Chevell M Payne says:

    I have a yuan shi kai dollar.if interested for view contact **-***-****

  15. ALICIA says:

    TENGO UNA MONEDA CASI IGUAL, CAMBIA EN 3 SIGNOS, SERA FALSA?

  16. Hello there, I have many coins of Yuan Shi Kai Silver Dollar, Please contact me via the email above to help check out the coins if they are fake or real.

  17. Anonymous says:

    I have this coin how much worth

  18. John (Sully) Sullivan says:

    I have a fat man, dollar with a unique design on the back of it. It must be a mint mark, but I can’t find it? Can someone there show me or do you have access to more dollar pictures that I could see you somewhere?

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