Policy & RegulationAnalysis
China's Central Bank to Issue Jiang Zemin Centenary Commemorative Coins
The People's Bank of China will release a four-coin set marking the 100th anniversary of the former leader's birth, including gold, silver, and standard coins.
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The Brief
The People's Bank of China announced it will begin issuing a four-piece commemorative coin set on August 17, 2026, to mark the centenary of the birth of former Chinese leader Jiang Zemin. The set includes one standard circulating coin, two gold coins, and one silver coin, all classified as legal tender. The one-yuan standard coin will have a mintage of 10 million pieces and will be distributed through a bank reservation system opening in late August.
Why it matters
The issuance of official commemorative currency for the centenary of a former paramount leader represents a high-level state commemoration in China. It formalizes Jiang Zemin's historical legacy within the state's official public memory, combining numismatic tradition with Party protocol.
China context
In Chinese political tradition, the centenaries of key former Party and state leaders are typically commemorated with state-organized events, commemorative stamps, coins, and official symposia. Jiang Zemin, who led the Communist Party of China from 1989 to 2002 and passed away in late 2022, played a central role in guiding China's economic reforms and World Trade Organization accession.
Editor's View
EDITOR'S VIEW — Analysis and inference, not factual reporting.
The design choices for the commemorative set highlight distinct facets of Jiang's official biography, notably his early intellectual foundation as an engineer and alumnus of Shanghai Jiao Tong University alongside his portrait as a paramount leader. The relatively limited mintage of the gold pieces and the standard quota system for the circulating coin reflect standard central bank protocols designed to manage retail demand and collector interest while upholding institutional dignity.
What to watch
- Public reservation pickup rates across participating commercial banks from August 31 to September 1, 2026.
- Potential announcements of further state-level centenary symposiums, official documentaries, or academic publications honoring Jiang Zemin.
- Secondary market premiums and trading activity for the limited-mintage gold and silver pieces.
Key Takeaways
- 1The PBOC is issuing a four-coin commemorative set starting August 17, 2026, to mark the centenary of Jiang Zemin's birth.
- 2The set consists of one standard 1-yuan coin (10 million mintage), two gold coins (30g and 8g), and one silver coin.
- 3Standard coin reservations will run from August 31 to September 1, 2026, with an exchange period in mid-October.
The People's Bank of China (PBOC) announced on August 14 that it will begin issuing commemorative coins on August 17, 2026, to mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of late Chinese leader Jiang Zemin, according to an official statement published by Xinhua News Agency.
The set consists of four distinct coins—one standard commemorative coin, two gold coins, and one silver coin—all designated as official legal tender of the People's Republic of China.
The standard commemorative coin carries a nominal face value of 1 yuan. Struck in nickel-plated steel with a diameter of 25 millimeters, the coin has a total mintage limit of 10 million pieces. Its obverse features the national emblem of the PRC along with the country's official name and the year of issue. The reverse bears a portrait of Jiang Zemin, the inscription "100th Anniversary of the Birth of Jiang Zemin" in Chinese characters, the dates "1926-2026," and the denomination.
Distribution of the standard coin will follow a reservation and exchange process operated through designated commercial banks. Individual reservations are capped at 20 coins per person. Participating banks will accept public reservations online and at designated physical branch counters between August 31 and September 1, 2026, with the physical exchange period scheduled for October 13 to October 19, 2026.
The gold and silver collector coins share the same obverse design featuring the national emblem. The 30-gram round gold coin contains 30 grams of pure gold, measures 32 millimeters in diameter, carries a face value of 500 yuan, and has a maximum mintage of 1,000 pieces. Its reverse features Jiang's portrait alongside the commemorative inscriptions.
The 8-gram round gold coin, with a face value of 100 yuan and a diameter of 22 millimeters, has a mintage limit of 10,000 pieces. Its reverse depicts Jiang's 1947 graduation photograph from Shanghai Jiao Tong University alongside the centenary inscriptions.
Sources
- 中国人民银行将发行江泽民诞辰100周年纪念币 — China News Service · 8/14/2026
- 中国人民银行将发行江泽民诞辰100周年纪念币 — State Council of China · 8/15/2026