Catalog
| Issuer | South Korea |
|---|---|
| Year | 1959-1961 |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
| Value | 50 Hwan |
| Currency | Hwan (1953-1962) |
| Composition | Nickel brass (70% Copper, 18% Zinc, and 12% Nickel) |
| Weight | 3.69 g |
| Diameter | 22.86 mm |
| Thickness | 1.1 mm |
| Shape | Round |
| Technique | Milled |
| Orientation | Coin alignment ↑↓ |
| Engraver(s) | |
| In circulation to | 21 March 1975 |
| Reference(s) | KM#2 |
| Obverse description | Value and date per the Korean calendar |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Latin |
| Obverse lettering | REPUBLIC OF KOREA 50 4292 |
| Reverse description | Geobukseon (turtle ship), Korean battleship used from the 15th to the 19th century, value, bank title (Hangul). |
| Reverse script | Hangul |
| Reverse lettering |
오십환 한국은행 (Translation: Fifty Hwan Bank of Korea) |
| Edge | Smooth |
| Mint | |
| Mintage |
4292 (1959) - - 24 640 000 4292 (1959) - countermarked (Sample Issue) - 4294 (1961) - - 20 000 000 |
| Numisquare ID | 4727498870 |
| Additional information |
Historical Context: Issued 1959-1961, South Korea's 50 Hwan reflects a tumultuous post-Korean War era. This period spanned President Syngman Rhee's First Republic, a brief democratic interlude, and military rule, marked by instability and economic reconstruction. The Hwan currency, established 1953, faced persistent inflation. This coin represents the Hwan system's final years before its 1962 replacement by the Won, a pivotal monetary transition in South Korean history.
Artistry: The 50 Hwan coin's design merges traditional Korean symbolism with a modern, nationalistic aesthetic. Engraver uncredited, likely