50 Yuan Return of Macau to China

Macau's handover from Portugal to China occurred on December 20, 1999 — making this 1998 issue a pre-handover commemorative, struck while the territory was still under Portuguese administration. China issued the coin a full year ahead of the event, an unusual move that reflects Beijing's careful orchestration of the handover's public messaging. Portugal had held Macau since 1557, making it the longest-running European colonial presence in Asia.