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20 Yuan Phoenix and Dragon
| Issuer | People's Bank of China |
|---|---|
| Year | 1989-1990 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
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| Currency | Second Rénmínbì (1955-date) |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
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| Obverse lettering | 中 华 人 民 共 和 国 1990 |
| Reverse description | The reverse presents a dynamic, high-relief composition depicting two iconic Chinese mythological creatures: a sinuous dragon occupying the lower field, its scaled body coiling energetically with clawed feet extended, and a phoenix soaring above in the upper field, its elaborate plumage and long tail feathers spreading dramatically across the field. Stylized cloud scrolls adorn the left and right periphery, lending a traditional aesthetic to the design. The denomination 20元 appears in the right-center field, while the fineness and weight inscriptions .999Ag and 2oz are engraved along the lower exergue. |
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| Additional information |
Issued under the bimetallic commemorative program China launched in earnest during the late 1980s, this two-ounce silver piece was part of a broader push to attract foreign hard currency through numismatic exports — a strategy the People's Bank pursued aggressively as China integrated further into international markets following the economic reforms of the preceding decade. The coins were sold primarily through overseas distributors, not domestic channels.
The 1989–1990 dating reflects production spanning the fiscal issue year, a practice common to Chinese commemoratives of this period that has since created minor cataloguing inconsistencies across major references.