The People's Bank of China (PBOC), the country's central bank, will issue a set of gold and silver commemorative coins this month to celebrate the upcoming World Expo 2010 Shanghai.

中国银行将发行一套金银纪念币，以庆祝即将到来的上海世博会。

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Like many modern crowdfunding campaigns, The World offered rewards, including gold coins for the largest donor.

BBC: The Statue of Liberty and America's crowdfunding pioneer

Sikeliote craftsmen became the masters of the ancient world at carving microscopically detailed dies from which gold and silver coins were stamped in a great variety of intricate images not just of gods and humans, but of flying four-horse chariots and great eagles devouring their prey.

WSJ: Sicily's Proud Past | Sicily: Art and Invention Between Greece and Rome | J. Paul Getty Museum By David Littlejohn

For decades, large quantities of gold coins have been issued by sovereign governments around the world.

FORBES: Getting Into The Gold Market