Attendees at the COINect: Chinese Culture and Creativity exhibition. /CGTN Photo

Coin lovers and culture enthusiasts alike are in for a rare treat this week, as the COINect: Chinese Culture and Creativity exhibition opened on Monday at the former site of the Royal Mint in London.

Running for one week only, the exhibition showcases 105 rare coins and medals from the Shanghai Mint Museum - all being displayed outside of China for the first time. 

Highlights include pieces featuring the Four Great Inventions in Ancient China, Zodiac animals, and Olympic medals - each a finely crafted emblem of Chinese heritage across centuries.

COINect is part of Our Water, a cross-cultural program examining urban life and water's role in global cities like Shanghai and London.

Among the standout features is a display of award-winning coin designs by university students from both China and the UK, jointly organised by Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Brunel University of London.

Speaking at the opening, Bi Haibo, Minister Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in the UK, described the coins as "powerful expressions of cross-cultural creativity and the younger generation's commitment to sustainable development."

Professor Trevor Hoey, Provost of Brunel University London, highlighted the enduring power of innovative design in the mordern world.

"I think we see that when we look at ancient coinage, when we look at more modern coinage, the importance of how design can last and over centuries, through generations, and persists."

Curator Pearl Wang reflected on the evolving meaning of coinage in today's digital era: "Though we haven't used coins for a long time, their role in preserving memory and culture is more important than ever."