Struck from 5oz of pure silver with antiqued and colour treatments, this magnificent coin salutes five inventions driven by original Chinese thinking.

Chinese ingenuity

Ancient China advanced humanity with innumerable inventions, from paper making to rockets. Driven by imaginative and original thinking, its innovative problem solving changed the world in many ways. For example:

• China was one of the first builders of ocean-going ships for trade, exploration and military use.
• Kites were invented in China more than 2,000 years ago for use in military applications.
• In their quest for an elixir offering immortality, ninth century Chinese alchemists instead discovered gunpowder.
• The first seismograph for detecting distant earthquakes was created by brilliant polymath Zhang Heng in 132 AD.
• Known as a ‘south-governor’, a precursor of the compass was used by Chinese geomancers some 2,500 years ago

Ingenious design

Laid out like an ancient ‘ban liang’ coin, the design features coloured illustrative scenes accompanied by the inscriptions ‘SHIPBUILDING’, ‘KITE FLYING’, ‘SEISMOGRAPH’, and ‘GUNPOWDER’. Additionally, the design features a three-dimensional representation of a spoon-shaped lodestone on an engraved plate with the inscription ‘COMPASS’.

The obverse depicts the Jody Clark effigy of His Majesty King Charles III, and the coin’s weight, purity, monetary denomination, and year-date.

Presentation packaging

Accompanied by a numbered certificate, the coin is housed in a presentation case and superbly illustrated shipper.

Key features:

• 99.99% pure silver
• Antiqued and colour treatments
• Design features iconic Chinese inventions: shipbuilding, kite flying, gunpowder, seismograph and compass
• Three-dimensional centrepiece