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The 5 yuan coin was minted by the People's Bank of China in 2023 as part of a series celebrating the art of Peking Opera. The 2023 issue continues the tradition of annually minting coins in honor of this world-famous genre of theatrical art, inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List.
Image Description
The reverse of the 2023 coin depicts a Peking Opera character in traditional theatrical makeup and costume. The artistic solution corresponds to the stylistics of the series: detailed reproduction of face painting, decorative headdress and clothing. Each issue of the series depicts a different role or performance.
2023 — “生 (Shēng) / Shen” (male roles)
Obverse
The State Emblem of the PRC in the center; above it is the inscription “中华人民共和国”, below it is the year “2023”. The composition is complemented by illustrations of traditional theatrical (opera) musical instruments.
Reverse
The central plot: the image of a character in the role of “Sheng / 生” (a male role in Peking opera), some of the elements are highlighted in color (partial coloring). Around are decorative ornamental motifs, the inscriptions “中国京剧艺术” and the denomination “5元”.
Historical context
Peking opera (京剧, Jīngjù) has a two-hundred-year history and is one of the most complete synthetic theatrical genres in the world. Its formation took place during the Qing Dynasty under the influence of regional theatrical traditions. The genre combines complex vocals, acrobatics, martial arts, pantomime and exquisite costumes. The role system includes four main categories: shen (male roles), dan (female roles), jing (painted characters) and chow (comic roles). Each of them has its own vocal and acting standards. After being included in the UNESCO list in 2010, the state has intensified efforts to support and popularize Peking Opera, including through numismatic projects.
Numismatic significance
The 2023 coin from the Peking Opera series is a valuable collector's edition that reflects China's artistic and cultural heritage. Compared with the 2024 and 2025 issues, it allows you to track the artistic evolution of the series and form a complete chronological collection. For numismatists specializing in coins from the Asia-Pacific region, this coin is an important element of a thematic selection dedicated to classical art forms.