From Qing Dynasty to the PRC: The Evolution of the Jiao

Illustrated Specimen Details: 1 Jiao

Example Specimen: 1 jiao, 1993 (People's Republic of China)

Authority & Heraldry: Issued by the People's Republic of China. The reverse features a blooming peony, a traditional symbol of prosperity, alongside the denomination 1 角 (Yi Jiao). The obverse displays the National Emblem of the PRC: the Tiananmen Gate (the entrance to the Forbidden City in Beijing, symbolizing ancient traditions) beneath five stars. In Maoist symbolism, the largest star represents the Chinese Communist Party, while the four smaller stars represent the four social classes. The state title is inscribed in both Pinyin (ZHONGHUA RENMIN GONGHEGUO) and traditional Chinese characters (中华人民共和国).

1. CHINA (Empire of China, Chinese Provinces, Republic of China, PRC, 19th century-present): 1 jiao = 10 fen = 1/10 yuan
2. REPUBLIC OF CHINA (TAIWAN, 1949-present): 1 jiao = 10 fen = 1/10 new dollar

The origin of the name "jiao": The character 角 (jiǎo) literally translates to "horn", "corner", or "angle". In a monetary context, it represents a tenth part (the equivalent of a dime or the prefix "deci-"). Interestingly, in everyday spoken Mandarin, the coin is almost universally referred to as máo (毛), a colloquialism meaning "hair" or "a small amount".

History and Evolution of the Jiao

The jiao emerged during the modernization of China's monetary system in the late 19th century, marking the country's transition from traditional cash coinage to decimal currencies based on international standards. Adopted during the late Qing dynasty, the system established the yuan as the principal monetary unit, with the jiao acting as its fractional one-tenth subdivision. Earliest examples were often struck by individual Chinese provinces, sometimes dual-denominated in cents.

Modern Era: The PRC and Taiwan

The denomination survived monumental political shifts, including the fall of the empire and the Republican era, remaining an integral part of both mainland Chinese and Taiwanese economies.

In the People's Republic of China, the jiao has been consistently minted from 1980 to the present day, primarily in 1, 2, and 5 jiao denominations. While modern circulating issues are typically struck in aluminum, brass, or plated steel, there have been notable commemorative releases. For instance, a 1983 silver non-circulating 5 jiao coin honored the Venetian merchant Marco Polo, and a rare 1987 circulating series depicted athletes (gymnasts, football, and volleyball players) for the National Games in Guangdong.

In the Republic of China (Taiwan), local coins in 1, 2, and 5 jiao denominations were issued between 1949 and 1981. A defining characteristic of these Taiwanese issues is their dating system, which exclusively uses the Minguo calendar rather than the Gregorian one.

Historical Relatives

The jiao shares its etymological roots with the chiao, a fractional coin issued by Japanese puppet states in China, most notably Manchukuo, during the first half of the 20th century. Today, despite inflation making the smallest fractional coins less common in daily transactions, the 5-jiao coin remains one of the most frequently encountered subdivisions in East Asia.