99.11.01    South Korea Gilt-bronze Crown Definitive Stamp

The Ministry of Information and Communication of South Korea issued a 2,000-won postage stamp on Nov. 1 to provide added convenience for the users of the special delivery postal system. The new stamp features the 'Gilt-bronze crown excavated from ancient tombs in Shinch'on-ni, Naju,' which had already been designed as National Treasure No. 295 in 1997.

This gilt-bronze crown, 25.5 cm in height, was recovered from the earthenware coffin B in the Paekche tomb No. 9 in Shinch'on-ri, Naju-gun, Chollanam-do around 1917-1918 and presumed to date back to the fifth to sixth century A.D. Consisting of two parts, an inner and an outer crown, it was once worn by Paekche officials. Not only was this ornate crown the first to be discovered of all the gilt-bronze crowns from the Three-Kingdoms period, but it is the only one of the Paekche crowns found intact. It had been preserved in good condition and is extremely valuable in terms of both academic research and artistic expression.

Although it is similar to Shilla gold crowns in basic shape, this crown is exquisitely decorated with grass-and-flower patterns quite unlike the design for the Shilla gold crown, which looks like the Chinese ideogram 'ch'ul (?)'. Since relics that are similar to the inner part of the crown have been found in Iksan, Chollabuk-do, and Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan, this crown is an important artifact that sheds light on the cultural exchanges between Japan and Paekche.
 
 

Title Definitive Postage Stamp (2,000 won)
Kind One kind
Date of Issue November 1, 1999
Quantity continue to be issued as required
Denomination 2,000 won
Design Gilt-bronze crown from Shinch'on-ni tombs, Naju
Stamp No. 2014
Printing Process Photogravure
Colors 6 colors
Size of Stamp 26mm x 36mm
Image Area 23mm x 33mm
Perforation 13 
Sheet Composition 10 x 5
Paper White Unwatermarked
Designer Lee, Gi-seog
Printer  Korea Minting and Security Printing Corporation

 

Original Information from South Korea Ministry of Information and Communication