Central Bank of China

PRESS RELEASE Release Date: Nov. 19, 2002




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THE ISSUEANCE OF THE TAIWAN INDIGENOUS PEOPLE CULTURAL SERIES COIN SET¢wAMIS

The Central Bank of China will issue the 5th Coin Set of The Taiwan Indigenous Peoples Cultural Series"AMIS on November 26, 2002. A total of 210,000 sets will be issued. The Bank of Taiwan and the Central Trust of China are appointed as the delegate of the Central bank of China to deal with the sale of the coin sets. Each set, including six different coins in circulation and a commemorative copper medal, costs NT$350. Each person may purchase up to two sets of coins at one time.

The Amis, the most populous of the aboriginal groups of Taiwan, inhabit the East Coast and longitudinal rift valley between Hualien and Taitung. Traditionally the Amis gather in collective living styles and expand forming larger settlements. They are skilled in farming, hunting, fishing and wild-herb collecting. The social system is uxiro-matrilocal in which the women have the inheritance rights for housing and properties. The men establish hierarchical relationships based on age grading and each village forms a separate age-set organization, which is the foundation for education, administration, military, ritual, and cooperative production for the whole village. Major annual festivals are held for seeding, hunting, fishing, harvest, and rites of passage rituals.

We are grateful to the Council of Aboriginal Affairs, Executive Yuan, for examining the symbols and literature used in the preparation for the Coin Set.