The 150 gram gold commemorative coin is with a depiction of the Ancient City of Pingyao on the back. [Photo/Shanxi Daily]

The People's Bank of China recently issued a set of gold and silver commemorative coins themed on the Ancient City of Pingyao, a UNESCO World Heritage Site -- the first time it has commemorated the city since the People's Republic of China was founded in 1949. 

The currency set issued by the central bank consists of one silver and two gold commemorative coins cast by Shanghai Mint Co and Shenzhen Guobao Mint Co and the coins will be distributed by China Gold Coin Inc.  

The front sides of all three commemorative coins feature representations of Yingxun Gate in the city, the country name and issue year. 

The 150-gram gold commemorative coin with a denomination of 2,000 yuan ($289.66) is inscribed with an image of the Ancient City of Pingyao on the reverse and has a maximum circulation of 600. 

The 8 g, 100-yuan gold commemorative coin is engraved with Zhenguo Temple on the reverse and it has a maximum circulation of 10,000.

The 30 g silver coin worth 10 yuan is inscribed with the representation of the Weituo Buddha sculpture and a hall in the Shuanglin Temple on its reverse. A total of 20,000 of those coins will be released. 

The Ancient City of Pingyao was a financial center for the whole of China from the 19th century to the early 20th century and the birthplace of China's banking industry. 

According to UNESCO Pingyao, founded in the 14th century and located in central Shanxi province, is a globally important ancient city which includes three sections: the entire area within the walls of Ping Yao, Shuanglin Temple 6 kilometers southwest of the county seat and Zhenguo Temple. UNESCO says the remarkably preserved site retains the historic form of the county-level cities of the Han people in Central China from the 14th to 20th century. 

The issue of the commemorative coins is not only in recognition of Pingyao's past economic prosperity, but also celebrates the bright development prospects for the contemporary Pingyao, according to the Management Committee of the Ancient City of Pingyao.