Antimony medal by Metallium, Inc. Photo used by permission.
Diameter 19 mm, 2.8 grams, 99.9% pure. $18 on 12/23/2006.
This coin is not in my collection. If anyone knows where I can find one, please email me at jer...@gmail.com
Antimony coins were made in Kweiyang (Guiyang), the capital of Kweichow (Guizhou) Province. Because of shortages of copper coins from other provinces, Kweichow decided to make half a million pieces in antimony, since this metal along with lead was already being mined in quantity in Kweichow.
Production was set up in an arsenal near Kweiyang. Due to lack of capacity, the arsenal finished casting the coins 2 to 3 years behind schedule, so the coins were actually issued in 1933.
Despite the efforts of the local government to promote them, the people did not accept them because they were different and because they were too soft.
Source: Antimony Coin, an article by Stephen Tai on a Russian website by Vladimir Belyaev.
Photo source unknown.
Antimony medal by Metallium, Inc. Photo used by permission.
Diameter 19 mm, 2.8 grams, 99.9% pure. $18 on 12/23/2006.