Manchukuo was a Japanese puppet state established in 1932 following the Kwantung Army's seizure of northeastern China. The coinage issued in its early years, including this piece, was nominally struck under the authority of Puyi — the last Qing emperor, installed as Chief Executive before being elevated to Emperor in 1934. The Datong era name, adopted for these first issues, was dropped after just two years when Puyi's imperial restoration changed the reign title to Kangde.
Production was handled by the Osaka Mint under Japanese supervision. The Datong series was short-lived by design — political theater required a new monetary identity to match each shift in Puyi's manufactured status.
Manchukuo was a Japanese puppet state established in 1932 following the Kwantung Army's seizure of northeastern China. The coinage issued in its early years, including this piece, was nominally struck under the authority of Puyi — the last Qing emperor, installed as Chief Executive before being elevated to Emperor in 1934. The Datong era name, adopted for these first issues, was dropped after just two years when Puyi's imperial restoration changed the reign title to Kangde.
Production was handled by the Osaka Mint under Japanese supervision. The Datong series was short-lived by design — political theater required a new monetary identity to match each shift in Puyi's manufactured status.