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500 Yuan Chinese White Dolphin
| Issuer | People's Bank of China |
|---|---|
| Year | 1997 |
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| Currency | Second Rénmínbì (1955-date) |
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| Obverse description | Central depiction of the national emblem of the People's Republic of China, featuring Tiananmen Gate rendered in fine detail within a circular wreath of grain stalks, surmounted by five stars arranged in a semicircular arc against the upper field. The legend 中华人民共和国 (People's Republic of China) is inscribed in Chinese characters around the upper periphery, while the date 1997 appears in the lower exergue. The design is executed with polished relief against a mirrored proof field. |
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| Reverse lettering | 中华白海豚 CHINESE WHITE DOLPHIN 500元 |
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| Additional information |
The Chinese White Dolphin series was launched in part to raise international awareness of the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin, designated a protected species in Hong Kong waters precisely as the 1997 handover approached. That political timing was deliberate — the issue functioned as much as a diplomatic statement about environmental stewardship under incoming Chinese administration as it did a bullion collectible. The 155.5g specification places this firmly in the 5-troy-ounce category, a format the People's Bank favored for prestige issues throughout the 1990s.
Mintages for the white dolphin gold issues were extremely low, typically in the hundreds rather than thousands.