The ruling Kuomintang on the Chinese island of Taiwan is taking a conservative and feudal attitude toward a proposed new coin, according to the grandson of the local hero whose portrait has been promised to appear on a coin. Democracy activist Chiang Wei-shui died of typhoid in 1931 at age 40. Chiang had been imprisoned several times during the Japanese rule of Taiwan, and founded the island’s first legal political party. The highway between Taipei and Su’ao in Ilan County is named for Chiang, not to be confused with the late Taiwan President Chiang Kai-shek. Taiwan’s current president, Ma Ying-jeou, made a promise more than a year ago to place the effigy of the late political organizer on a coin, however to date nothing has happened. Perhaps in some countries this might be a trivial matter, but it isn’t on Taiwan courtesy of Chiang’s grandson Chiang Chao-ken and other relatives. In fact, the proposal was taken seriously enough that there is an agreement between the current Taiwan president and the family regarding the proposed coin. Liberty Times newspaper reported on Dec. 14 that the lack of news regarding the promise Ma made about the coin made the grandson feel like he was receiving no respect. The grandson told Liberty Times the promised coins would be a symbol of Taiwanese history. The newspaper added that “Academics also approved the proposal because it would show the KMT strengthening the local aspect of its identity.” The Dec. 14 Taiwan News reported, “The presidential office said Monday the president had not reneged on his promise, but the Central Bank would introduce the coin at an opportune time according to its rules.” The situation is not being taken lightly by the president. Presidential Department of Public Affairs Director Chang Kuo-pao told Taiwan News that Ma wrote a letter to Chiang’s descendants to ask for their consent to issue commemorative coins in their ancestor’s honor. Chang told the newspaper the central bank would seek advice before deciding when to issue the coin, but he didn’t know when that would be. Taiwan News continued, “During a discussion with Central Bank Governor Perng Fai-nan after his election in March last year, Ma said it would be better to issue commemorative coins with effigies of Taiwanese historical figures rather than of the new president.” According to Liberty News, there is no tradition of depicting historic figures on commemorative coins, but the bank would consider honoring Chiang on a 10-yuan coin (The bank did not specify if the 10 yuan would be a commemorative or not.). Taiwan currently uses a decimal currency system based on the “new Taiwan dollar” or yuan. Circulation coins are issued in denominations of half yuan depicting a mei blossom on the obverse and the denomination on the reverse; 1, 5, and 10 yuan each depicting Chiang Kai-shek on the obverse and the denomination on the reverse; a 20 yuan depicting Mona Rudao on the obverse and traditional canoes used by the Tao people on the reverse; and a 50 yuan depicting Sun Yat-sen on the obverse with latent images of the denomination numeral in both Chinese and Arabic numerals on the reverse.Source: numismaster.com
