1 Fen Type 1

The Republic of China's first fen coinage emerged from the newly established Beiyang government's effort to replace the chaotic mixture of cash coins, provincial issues, and foreign trade coins still dominating daily commerce after the 1912 revolution. The Type 1 designation distinguishes this issue from later variants by its die characteristics, though attribution can be complicated by the fact that multiple provincial mints were producing nominally identical pieces under inconsistent quality controls during this period.

1916 falls squarely within Yuan Shikai's presidency — and his brief, disastrous imperial interlude — leaving the political legitimacy of republic-branded coinage from this year somewhat ambiguous.