Junk Silver Series; 1999 Macau 100 Patacas; Macau's Return to China Commemorative Coin.

For clarification from a previous post, I’ve deliberately named this series of posts; Junk Silver Series as a ‘play’ on words. While the #sgs community at large apply this colorful colloquial term to all silver business coins, I will be referring to the literal and historical Chinese Junk ship. As we say, “Together we learn.”

“Black birds tend to like shiny things.” ~ The Bloody Raven

A part of my Stacking adventures are the semi-quarterly planned expeditions to see Jim at my not-so-local-enough Coin shop and find what shiny goods he has in stock. That clear fall day yielded me a Portuguese coin, a 5 oz. Scottsdale Stacker round, an RCM Commemorative of the Bluenose Schooner, a handful of free coin capsules and this lovely Macau Commemorative silver coin. This was an elusive coin that I had an eye on Ebay.ca for some time. A piece that resisted shedding it’s typical issue premium until the day I walked into Jim’s store.

The Silver Coin.

1999 Macau 100 Patacas Macau's Returned to China. Reverse; Portuguese Caravel, Chinese Junk, Cameo of the Pavilion gate of the A Ma Gao Temple Legend; 1999 Diameter 38mm x 3.1mm Thickness 31.1 g, 0.925 Silver

As a combined purchase I got even a sweeter deal off the current sale tag price, and I paid in cash. The sweetest is this Macau coin that came complete with all the bulky, yet original oriental boxes. This was one of a group of five packages inside a tall glass display case and I’m thinking of getting another one should any remain on my next expedition.

Why this coin is significant to me?

The ships of both cultures on the same face are emblematic of my Asian ancestry, the west meeting the east. A Portuguese caravel and a Chinese junk with Macau in the background, the gold gilded inset of the Historical Ma Gao Temple. Officially this coin celebrated the establishment of Macau as a special Administrative Region on December 1999.

I see it a bit different. My direct ancestors sought the freedom and opportunities in the western world a few generations ago. The immigrants of Chinese from Macau and Hong Kong just prior to 1997 were not much different than those who came to British Columbia in 1858.

1999 Macau 100 Patacas Macau's Return to China. Edge; Segmented Reeding

Ghostly echoes of past Sojourners.

1999 was some year. I remember pulling plenty of long shifts at my first health facility to pay down my new huge mortgage on my first home. The years leading up to 1999 was the steady inflow of Asians coming into Vancouver to make it their home, it was almost like an exodus. There was an unspoken underlying fear of the incoming Communist management at both Hong Kong and Macau. Uncertainty to the point that economic capital couldn’t afford to wait for assurances made it’s move and spilled upon the shores of a city remembered by an earlier generation of Chines sojourners as the ‘Saltwater city’.

1999 Macau 100 Patacas Macau's Returned to China. Obverse; Macau’s Coat of ArmsLegend; MACAU, 澳門, 壹佰圓, 100 PATACAS Royal Canadian Mint , 38,888 Reference KM# 96

The New Sojourners

Their mothers or guardian drove a conservative BMW, Benz, SAAB or similar styled sedan. When I had my sons enrolled into a reputable Christian private school their class comprised more than 90% Asian. While my children were subsidized enrollment I can see many students were dropped off and picked up in those expensive cars. I drove an old Honda at the time, which cost me less than it was to insure it.

Many students are young boys and girls of Senior High school aged from well-to-do families that lived here while their executive manager father continued to work in Hong Kong or China.

At parent Teacher meetings they often keep to themselves at first and that was understandable even from the local born Chinese living in Vancouver. Most immigrant parents spoke Mandarin and decent ‘Engrish’. There were a few families that spoke Portuguese that gathered at a specific area in the school, likely from Macau, few spoke Cantonese. I sometimes got the feeling that I wasn’t worth getting to know but the Teaching staff were awesome.

1999 Macau 100 Patacas Banco Nacional Ultramarino Banknote. Front; Old Map centre, Chinese Junk right BANCO NACIONAL ULTRAMARINO, 大西洋銀行 MACAU, CEM PATACAS 壹百圓Back; Macau’s harbor and skyline153mm x 77mm 10,000,000 Printed by Thomas de la Rue. Reference P# 68, 73a length 153mm x width 77mm

By this time the new immigrants have successfully integrating within the greater Asian community to some extent. Business and development boomed sending real estate prices skyward. The City of Richmond located south of Vancouver saw a huge boom of Asian oriented shopping centers and condominium properties. In effect the city of Richmond became the new modern Chinatown. Yes, that Investment capital came and as always there was a catch that came with it to our shores.

The Dark Side

I couldn’t help thinking how the People’s Republic of China had so much sway in the internal affairs of Canada. Allowing the flow of capital from China may have been a planned act in enticing our government to throw our doors open. An economic carrot dangled in front of our officials and law makers.

What is unsettling is my government’s lack of restrictions concerning sovereignty overreach by the Peoples Republic of China’s alleged ‘Police’ precincts located here in Canada. And the issue has not been dealt with to my satisfaction.

I hear plenty of stories around these Chinese Family support offices. The rumors from Chinese Nationals as well as Chinese Canadians are brushed aside as ‘misinformation’. I’d elaborate but at the risk of seeing Family Support officers come knocking at my door.

Stacking Crypto, Precious metals and posterity for that looming dark stormy day!

The #piratesunday tag is the scurvy scheme of Captain @stokjockey for #silvergoldstackers pirates to proudly showcase their shiny booty and plunder for all to see. Landlubbers arrrh… welcomed to participate and be a Pirate at heart so open yer treasure chests an’ show us what booty yea got!

Previous Junk Silver Series Posts;

1996 Portugal 200 Escudos Discovery of Macau Commemorative Silver coin.
1996 North Korea 250 Won The Return of Hong Kong Commemorative Silver coin.

References & Sources

Saltwater City, by Paul Yee, . University of Washington Press 1988. ISBN 0-88894-616-3.
NGC; 1999 Macau 100 Patacas Macau’s Return to China Commemorative Silver coin.
1999 Macau 100 Patacas Banco Nacional Ultramarino Banknote.
Photos are my own shot with an ancient 2018 Samsung SM-A530W or otherwise indicated.
P. Image under Pixabay
W. Wiki Commons
☠️🎃 Page Dividers by thekittygirl. ❄️🌞
Cameo Raven Brooch from The Black Wardrobe.
The 2024 Hive 0.999 Silver Round.
The background for these photographs is a chart by Rigobert Bonne, a French Cartographer in 1780, Published in “Atlas de Torurtes les Parties Connues du Globe Terrestre, Dresse pour l’Histoire Philosphique & Politique des Establishments & du Commerce des Europeens dan les Deux Indes” by G.T. Raynad. Size 9 ½ x 16 5/8 inches.

"I’m just a gal in black, not a bloody Financial Advisor!"
Physical precious metals bullion stacking is only a part of my personal overall financial strategy. What form in physical bullion style is my choice since I have already achieved my target goal in this investment category. Please, Do your research before deciding to buying any bullion products.