Born in Yixing, Jiangsu Province, Xu Beihong (b:19 July 1895 d:26 September 1953) was a Chinese painter most well known for his Chinese ink paintings of various birds and horses. Studying for a short period in Tokyo, he spent eight years from 1919 to 1927 travelling around Europe learning new Western art techniques. On return to China he created numerous works and he combined Chinese brush and ink techniques with Western perspective and methods of composition. He integrated firm and bold brush strokes with the precise delineation of form.

He created some great, classically Chinese art and the China Gold Coin Corporation (CGC) has released a range of four coins celebrating some of his finest works and commemorating the 120th anniversary of his birth. It’s a great mix of styles and formats, a pair of gold coins (one coloured round, one rectangular) and a pair of silver coins, a round one and a gilded rectangular one. The two rectangular coins are 50z in weight, so the gold will be only for the lucky few, but the ¼oz gold Magpie coin looks a fine release.

MAGPIE AND LEAVES

“Leaves Magpie” created in 1953, is Xu Beihong’s swan song. Liao Jingwen said: “This is Beihong made three days before his death, it was he of Chinese painting also must document; infinitely sad to look at it but leaves it as the end of their two-magpie hard life more difficult it can also comfort the souls of Beihong. also; willing hidden treasure of love. ”

The Magpie is a traditional Chinese painting theme, meaning “very happy” and many good wishes. Xu Beihong painted Magpies repeatedly and gave them to friends. “Leaves Magpie” is a simple concise magpie, leaves, branches composition. Two magpies look different, life, maple branches shades dizzy write, supplemented unique line momentum, leaves density has caused, elegant coloring. Whole picture quiet tree branches brush, magpie jump paper, filled with the promise of a better life indefinitely.

DENOMINATION ALLOY WEIGHT DIMENSIONS QUALITY MINTAGE
100 YUAN 0.999 GOLD 7.776 g 22.0 mm PROOF 10,000
REVERSE “Leaves magpie” map (local color), and published “Beihong” words and denominations.
OBVERSE National Emblem of the People’s Republic of China, and published country name, reign.

FOOLISH OLD MAN REMOVES THE MOUNTAINS

According to the myth, a Foolish Old Man of 90 years who lived near a pair of mountains (given in some tellings as the Taihang and the Wangwu Mountains, in Yu province). He was annoyed by the obstruction caused by the mountains and sought to dig through them with hoes and baskets.

When questioned as to the seemingly impossible nature of his task, the Foolish Old Man replied that while he may not finish this task in his lifetime, through the hard work of himself, his children, and their children, and so on through the many generations, some day the mountains would be removed if he persevered. The gods in Heaven, impressed with his hard work and perseverance, ordered the mountains separated.

DENOMINATION ALLOY WEIGHT DIMENSIONS QUALITY MINTAGE
50 YUAN 0.999 SILVER 155.52 g 80.0 x 50.0 mm PROOF 3,000
REVERSE “Foolish Old Man” figure (local color), in combination with Maple decorative patterns designed and published “Beihong” words and denominations.
OBVERSE National Emblem of the People’s Republic of China, and published country name, reign.

SIX GALLOPING HORSES

DENOMINATION ALLOY WEIGHT DIMENSIONS QUALITY MINTAGE
2,000 YUAN 0.999 GOLD 155.52 g 64.0 x 40.0 mm PROOF 1,000
REVERSE “Six Chun” map, with a combination of maple leaf design decorative patterns, and published “Beihong” words and denominations.
OBVERSE National Emblem of the People’s Republic of China, and published country name, reign.

HOP IMMORTALS

TEXT 01

DENOMINATION ALLOY WEIGHT DIMENSIONS QUALITY MINTAGE
10 YUAN 0.999 SILVER 31.104 g 40.0 mm PROOF 20,000
REVERSE “Six Chun” map, with a combination of maple leaf design decorative patterns, and published “Beihong” words and denominations.
OBVERSE National Emblem of the People’s Republic of China, and published country name, reign.