The People's Bank of China issued a set of commemorative coins on
Wednesday, to mark the successful launch of Chang'e-1, the
country's first lunar probe.
The issuance comprises 20,000 gold coins, with a face value of
150 yuan each, and 40,000 silver coins, with a face value of 10
yuan.
The front of the commemorative coins are decorated with the
celestial bodies of the solar system, the word China and the year
2007.
The back of the commemorative coins are displayed with the
images of the lunar probe, moon and earth, along with Chinese
characters celebrating the successful launch of Chang'e-1.
The coins were produced by the Shenyang Mint and will be
distributed by China Gold Coin Inc.
Chang'e-1, named after a mythical Chinese goddess who, according
to legend, flew to the moon, blasted off on a Long March 3A carrier
rocket on Oct. 24 from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre in
southwestern Sichuan province.
China published the first picture of the moon captured by
Chang'e-1 on Monday morning, marking the success of the country's
first ever lunar project.
(CRI November 30, 2007)
