The central bank will release special gold and silver coins to mark the inauguration of Tsai Ing-wen as president later this month.
Gold coins with a face value of NT$2,000 (US$60) will go on sale for NT$48,000 (US$1,500) each. Silver coins with a face value of NT$200 (US$6) will be sold for NT$1,600 (US$50) each.
The coins will carry engravings of Tsai and the incoming vice president, Chen Chien-jen. But unlike similar issues in the past, this time the coins will carry Chinese characters reading “Light up Taiwan.” The same words will appear in English on the back.
Shih Tsun-hua of the central bank explained the decision.
“Each time we issue commemorative presidential coins, we of course have to get the subject’s approval for the engraving," said Shih. "This is the first time we have put the characters ‘Light up Taiwan.’ This was the result of talks between the Democratic Progressive Party’s publicity people, DPP chair and President-elect Tsai Ing-wen and the central bank. We thought it was a good idea and we decided to go ahead with it.”
The coins will be available to buy at any branch of Bank of Taiwan from May 20, the day of Tsai’s inauguration.