China’s Peking Opera 5 Yuan Wins 2023-dated “Best Circulating” Coin
The People’s Republic of China won the Best Circulating Coin for the Coin of the Year (COTY) Awards for 2023-dated coins. The winning coin celebrates the rich cultural heritage of Chinese Peking Opera.
Peking opera is a performance art incorporating singing, acting, dancing, and martial arts. It features stories drawn from classical Chinese literature, history, and traditional legends, which are brought to life with elaborate costumes and makeup. The sheng is the main male role.
The obverse of the Chinese Peking Opera Art 5 Yuanfeatures China’s national emblem, with the country’s official name “中华人民共和国” (People’s Republic of China) inscribed above and the year 2023 below. The design is surrounded by illustrations of traditional Chinese musical instruments commonly used in traditional opera performances.
On the reverse, the main image features the iconic “Sheng” character from Beijing’s Chinese opera, with certain elements highlighted in color. The design is adorned with decorative motifs, accompanied by the inscriptions “中国京剧艺术” (art of Peking Chinese opera) and the denomination “5元” (5 yuan).
The circulating brass coin has a 60 million mintage. It weighs 13.1 grams and has a diameter of 30 mm.