China. New Gold and Silver Coins Celebrate Centenary Anniversary of Prestigious University

As part of the collector coin series entitled Centennial Series of Colleges and Universities, the latest gold and silver coins mark the 100th anniversary of the founding of the South Western University of Finance and Economics which will be celebrated on the 3^rd June. The present university can trace its origins to the year 1925, when a group of students and academics from St. John’s University in Shanghai, left the school following the events of the May 30th Movement – a notable student protest and founded the Kwang Hua University in Shanghai.

With the outbreak of the Second Sino-Japanese War in 1938 and Japan’s advance into mainland China, the university relocated its headquarters to Chengdu. Other prominent Chinese universities in the east of China did the same and relocated their operations to western China after the Republic of China moved its capital from Nanjing to Chongqing.

The university moved its campus and administration back to Shanghai in 1946 and the campus in Chengdu became a branch of Kwang Hua University. In 1952, after the foundation of the People's Republic of China, 16 other universities and colleges along with Kwang Hua University were reformed as the Sichuan Institute of Finance and Economics, later known as Chengdu University until 1978. In 1980, the People's Bank of China took over the administration of the university and it is during this chapter in the university’s history that it was renamed South Western University of Finance and Economics - SWUFE in 1985. The People’s Bank continued its administration of the University until 2000 and after that, administration was transferred to the Ministry of Education.

Among universities specialised in finance, business, and economics and as of 2024, South Western University of Finance and Economics is ranked 4th nationwide and 1st in Western China. The university also has four bachelor's degree programs and two master's degree programs delivered completely in English and these programs have trained several thousand foreign students from over a hundred countries. SWUFE has established cooperative relations with 130 universities, financial institutes and enterprises from 36 countries and regions.

The gold and silver coins are produced by the Shenzhen Guobao Mint Company Ltd. (silver) and the Shenyang Mint Company Ltd. (gold) on behalf of the People’s Bank of China.

10 Yuan – Silver. Designed by Liu Ronglu, the obverse side of the silver commemorative coin features a combination of elements including the Guanghua iron tree - planted by the-then vice president of the University in 1939, Willow Lake, Erjing Bridge and the bell tower which are all landmarks on campus. In the right field are the University’s insignia and commemorative years 1925 – 2025. Above the primary design and along the upper rim is the commemorative inscription 西 南 财 经 大 学 建 校 100 周 年 and SOUTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY OF FINANCE AND ECONOMICS CENTENARY CELEBRATION. Below the Erjing Bridge, colour is applied to the water and flowers with the denomination 10元 superimposed over the design.

100 Yuan – Gold. Designed by Su Jiang Qin, the 100th anniversary logo of the South Western University of Finance and Economics Centennial Celebration logo is featured in the centre with a background of a stylised hibiscus flower and decorative patterns. Above the primary design and along the upper rim is the commemorative inscription 西 南 财 经 大 学 建 校 100 周 年 and below the design along the lower rim the text is shown in English SOUTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY OF FINANCE AND ECONOMICS CENTENARY CELEBRATION. Just above the English text is the coin’s denomination 100元.

Both coins share the same reverse design which features the National Emblem of the People's Republic of China. The country's name is placed over the emblem in Chinese characters中 华 人 民 共 和 国 (People’s Republic of China) with the year of issue 2025 is placed below. 

Available from the 19^th May, each gold and silver coin is encapsulated and presented in a case accompanied with a certificate of authenticity. They are solely distributed by the China Gold Coin Corporation. For details of these and other coins released by the People’s Bank of China, please visit the website of the China Gold Coin Network