How to Identify the Republic 1 Fen
A collector's checklist for the holed copper Republic of China 1 fen: numeral and plum blossoms, the Minguo date, size and metal, and authentication cautions.
Read the full Republic 1 Fen encyclopedia entry →
Start with the two design sides, because together they identify the type quickly. One side shows a large numeral 1 with Chinese characters naming the value and issuer; the other is filled with a spray of flowering plum blossoms. Both sides are arranged around a central hole. A small copper holed coin with this numeral-and-plum-blossom pairing is the Republic of China 1 fen.
Read the date in the Republican (Minguo) system rather than as a Western year. Chinese numerals give the Minguo year, and you convert by adding 1911, so the observed Year 5 becomes 1916. Confirming the year this way pins the coin to a specific issue and separates it from later or earlier fen of similar appearance.
Check the physical characteristics. This is a copper coin of small-change size and low weight, brown to reddish where original surface survives, with a central hole. Honest circulation should soften the plum-blossom petals and the numeral evenly. Weigh and measure the coin and compare against published figures for the Republican 1 fen; a piece markedly off in diameter, weight, or hole shape deserves a closer look.
Read the Chinese characters, or match them to a reference, to confirm both the denomination and the Republican issuer. The country and value legends distinguish this fen from other holed Chinese coppers, from provincial issues, and from later fen of the Republic that use different designs. Small differences in the blossoms, characters, or numeral help attribute a coin to a particular year and variety.
Beware of look-alikes and altered coins. Holed copper coins were common across Chinese and East Asian coinage, so rely on the plum-blossom reverse, the numeral 1, and the Republican legend and date to confirm the exact type. Watch for cast copies with seam lines, grainy surfaces, or soft, blurry characters, and for coins whose Minguo dates may have been re-cut. When value or surfaces raise doubt, seek an opinion from a specialist in Chinese coinage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the fastest way to confirm this is a Republic 1 fen?
Check both sides of the holed copper coin: a numeral 1 with Chinese characters on one, and a spray of plum blossoms on the other. That pairing identifies the Republic of China 1 fen. Then read the Minguo date to fix the exact year.
How do I read and convert the Minguo date?
The date is a Republican (Minguo) year given in Chinese numerals, counted from the Republic's founding in 1912. Add 1911 to the Minguo number to get the Western year, so Year 5 equals 1916.
How do I tell it apart from old Chinese cash or other holed coppers?
Many Chinese and East Asian coins have a central hole, so the hole alone is not enough. Rely on the numeral 1, the plum-blossom reverse, and the Republican Chinese legend and Minguo date to confirm this specific fen rather than a cash coin or a foreign look-alike.
How can I spot a fake or altered coin?
Look for casting seams, a grainy or bubbled surface, and soft characters that lack struck crispness, as well as signs a Minguo date may have been re-cut. If the coin's value or surfaces look suspicious, have it examined by a specialist in Chinese coinage.