Chinese text on coin

[dordrechtguy]

Hi there,

 

I have a Chinese girlfriend who's 30th birthday is coming up. For this occasion I'm planning to give her jewelry made of (among other materials) an old chinese coin from the year she was born.

 

To avoid potentially awkward/painful situations, I just want to make sure what the text on the coin means :-)

 

Can anyone help me translate the Chinese text on this coin to English? 

 

Thanks so much!

 

Front:

 

Back:

 

Thanks!

 

[imron]

The front says "People's Republic of China"

 

The back says 5 cents.

 

A couple of points:

 

This coin is essentially worthless (even in China today).  A Chinese woman might not appreciate it as much as Western woman would a piece of jewellery made from a single penny piece.  It would have very little in the way of sentimental value (and might otherwise bring down the sentimental value of the piece of jewellery you were making).

 

If you still decide to make it, make sure your girlfriend is from Mainland China.  When you say 'Chinese', it's quite ambiguous (could be from Taiwan, HK, Malaysia, Singapore or any number of other places in the Chinese diaspora, or she could be of Chinese descent - e.g. parents moved overseas before she was born and she grew up totally in another country).  Giving this coin to someone not from Mainland China would most likely not be appreciated at all and in fact might even make them upset/angry depending on where they were from.

[MPhillips]

Obverse: People's Republic of China

Reverse: 5 cents

(It's possible that if she or her parents are from Taiwan, Hong Kong or Macau, she might not like a piece of jewelry containing a coin from the PRC.)

[dordrechtguy]

Thanks both!

 

Yes, she's from the Mainland.

 

And I hope she'll appreciate it ;) She has been living in Europe for the better half of her life.

[aone]

FYR: 5 cents is the Obverse and People's Republic of China is the reverse.