Illustrated Specimen Details: New Dollar
Example Specimen: 10 new dollars, 2011 (Republic of China, Taiwan)
Authority & Heraldry: This copper-nickel coin from the Republic of China (Taiwan) features the portrait of Sun Yat-sen, widely revered as the "Father of the Nation" for his instrumental role in overthrowing the Qing dynasty. The obverse date, "100 年", is based on the Minguo calendar (using 1912 as year one), corresponding to 2011 in the Gregorian calendar. The reverse displays the denomination "10 圓" equipped with advanced latent security imagery. Depending on the viewing angle, the banner reveals the idioms 國泰 and 民安 (the country flourishes and the people live in peace), while the numeral zero alternates between the outline of Taiwan and a plum blossom (the national flower).
Denomination: 10 New Dollars (Yuan)
Date: 2011 (Minguo Year 100)
Metal: Copper-nickel
Weight: 7.55 g | Diameter: 26 mm
Mint: Central Mint of Taiwan
Estimated value: 0.9$
DENOMINATION GUIDE — WHERE AND WHEN (coins catalog: by names and emitents)
The name "new dollar" (officially the New Taiwan dollar, or Xin Taibi) distinguishes the modern currency of Taiwan from the Old Taiwan dollar. In Western numismatic catalogs, these coins are classified under the "New dollar" naming convention, despite the fact that the coins themselves typically bear the character "圓" (yuan), meaning "round" or "dollar".
Historical Context and Numismatic Classification
The New Taiwan dollar was introduced in 1949 to combat severe hyperinflation, replacing the Old Taiwan dollar at a ratio of 40,000 to 1. It firmly established itself as the sole legal tender of the island state, with the first physical coins of the new standard being struck in 1960.
A distinct feature of Taiwanese numismatics is the linguistic difference between the official currency name and the inscription on the coins. While the official name is "新臺幣" (New Taiwan currency), this exact phrasing appears on very few commemorative issues. Standard circulating coins simply use "圓". This character has a deep historical monetary presence in the region: during 1895-1946, when Taiwan was part of the Japanese Empire, the local currency (the Taiwanese yen) was also denoted as 圓, just like the modern yuan of mainland China.
The monetary system follows a strict decimal hierarchy:
- 1 new dollar = 10 jiao
- 1 jiao = 10 fen
Although jiao and fen remain official fractional units, they have largely disappeared from daily circulation due to inflation and economic growth. Today, the New Taiwan dollar is one of the most stable currencies in East Asia. Modern issues, such as the 10-dollar coin, reflect the region's technological advancement by integrating sophisticated anti-counterfeiting features like hidden holographic engraving directly into the metal.