2019 St. Helena 1 oz Silver Chinese Trade Dollar Restrike (BU)

This Silver coin is inspired by a Silver Chinese coin that was minted in 1889, following the reorganization of Chinese weights and measures. This amazing coin has a mintage of only 5,000!

Coin Highlights:
Mintage of 5,000 coins.
Contains 1 oz of .999 fine Silver.
Comes in protective plastic.
Obverse: Design of a mythical dragon in traditional Chinese style which is based on a new Silver Chinese coin minted in 1889. The dragon is surrounded by the inscriptions "THE EAST INDIA COMPANY" and "TRADE DOLLAR". The perimeter of the coin has a traditional Chinese scroll-pattern.
Reverse: Depicts the right-facing profile of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the year of issue and the face value. A Chinese scroll-pattern is also featured around the perimeter.

It became necessary to produce a special dollar for trading in the British Colony when the price of Silver rose rapidly in value between 1875 and 1895. The Silver price disturbed trading and resulted in a very serious shortage of minted dollars. To overcome the threat of a currency famine, The Royal Prerogative of the English sovereign gave approval in 1894 for the minting of a special British Dollar for general use in Far Eastern Trade.

The legendary Empress Dowager Cixi had a quest to modernize China's economy and the new Silver Chinese coin of 1889 was struck following the reorganization of Chinese weights and measures. The need for the trade dollar was the surge in western merchants looking to trade with China following the opening of Opium Wars. The Chinese Trade Dollar was minted in the same specification as the Spanish 8 Reales and became known as "silver dragons" or "dragon dollars".