5 Fen

China's aluminum fen coinage was introduced in 1955 as the country rebuilt its monetary infrastructure following the establishment of the People's Republic. The alloy specification — predominantly aluminum with a small magnesium addition — was a deliberate choice for a low-denomination coin in an economy where metal resources were carefully rationed by state planners. Later dates in the run, particularly those from the 1990s, were minted in far smaller quantities as the 5 fen's purchasing power became essentially negligible, making certain annual issues meaningfully scarcer than the long date range suggests.