10 Yuan Journey to the West - Ocean Pillar

Part of the multi-year Journey to the West commemorative series issued by the People's Mint, this 2003 release draws from Wu Cheng'en's 16th-century novel — one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. The series was produced across several years in the early 2000s and generated considerable secondary market activity among both thematic collectors and Chinese literary enthusiasts, driving premiums well above issue price on later releases.

The "Ocean Pillar" subject references the Ruyi Jingu Bang, the iron pillar-staff taken by Sun Wukong from the Dragon King's underwater palace — a pivotal episode in Chapter 3 of the novel.