Those familiar with the series know that this coin is not referenced in any catalog! Please see a similar 50c piece (5 jiao) here that was cast in brass. This coin is struck and is convincing in all of it's details. I'm extremely interested in any information anyone might be able to provide and any comment is welcome - registered users, see below.
Obviously this is a major find and I hope to submit it for cataloging in KM. The weight conforms to a Half dollar of the period (i.e. Yuan Shih-kai). The edge has strong & even reeding. It follows the design and legends of the Szechuan-Shensi Soviet Dollars (please see an examples of the SSS Dollars in the Museum). I assume that is the Soviet that issued it, and as an extremely limited issue, trial strike or pattern. It is a mystery why a similar 'coin' was cast as a counterfeit in brass (see Museum) when this silver one is unique or struck in very small numbers. Also see the 2 Jiao in both white metal and copper that contribute to this mystery series of unknown coins of the Chinese Soviets. One feature of the soviet issues was the fact that the people trusted the solid backing supporting the paper fiat money and the fineness/weight of the coinage compared to the Kuomintang/Republic issues. UNIQUE?? In the mean time I have discovered a primary Chinese reference work that lists this type as a pattern, it is the exact same design but is a 2 Jiao (20 cents) dated 1934. The reference is known as L&M which stands for the author and editor: Lin Gwo Ming and Ma Tak Wo "Illustrated Catalogue of Chinese Gold & Silver Coins"; catalog # 891A in the 6th & 7th editions.
Here are a number of RARE articles on Communist Chinese Soviet coins & notes from the Moneta Library:
VIEW & DOWNLOAD:
Soviet Chinese Copper Coins ("Little Brown Book") - Hua Guangpu
Soviet Chinese Coppers - Hua Guangpu
Soviet Coins Intriguing - Hogan
Chinese Soviet Coins Intriguing - Hogan
Chinese Soviet Coins and Notes - Raeburn (1937!)
Chinese Soviet Coins and Notes - Raeburn
Chinese Communist Armies Silver Coins - Kann
Chinese Communist Armies - Kann
Soviet Chinese Anti-Counterfeiting Struggle - Cao Chunrong
https://groups.io/g/Moneta/files/Moneta%20Library/SOVIET%20Anti-counterfeiting_Chunrong.pdf
The premier articles on Early Chinese Soviet issues are the invaluable documents below. It covers the history, coins and notes from 1927-1935 and includes photos and a map: (with color photos; in 3 parts);
The Money of Communist China - Sandrock (3 part series)
Part I: The Money of Communist China 1927-1949 - Part I
Part II: The Money of Communist China 1927-1949 - Part II
Part III: The Money of Communist China 1927-1949 - Part III
The Comprehensive Catalog of Chinese Copper Coins ("SOVIET" extract; color illus.) - Duan
Chinese Soviet Copper Coins - Duan
Larger, raw .tiff images can be made availabe to researchers on most coins in the Museum.