Originating in the 15th century, silver coins first appeared in Europe and were commonly known as "foreign coins," "lace coins," or "dollars." Silver was an imported commodity, initially entering China around the Ming Dynasty, but its large-scale influx began after the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty. Several types of silver coins, such as the Three-Sailing Silver Coin, the Bamboo Silver Coin, and the Gansu-minted Yuan Shikai Dollar, were issued in relatively small quantities. Among these silver coins, the most widely circulated, influential, and numerous are the Yuan Shikai portrait silver coins, commonly known as "Yuan Datou Silver Dollars."

The creation of the "Yuan Shikai Dollar" silver coin was an inevitable result of the development of silver coins. Issued after the Xinhai Revolution by Yuan Shikai to address military expenses and enhance his political standing, the coin was named after its profile portrait. The "Republic of China Year 3 Yuan Shikai Dollar" silver coin, being a physical currency, is highly sought after by collectors due to its association with precious metals and strong historical and cultural significance.

The "Yuan Shikai silver dollar" comes in denominations of one jiao, two jiao, five jiao, and one yuan. Based on the year of issue, it is also divided into several types, such as the third, eighth, ninth, and tenth years of the Republic of China. The one-yuan "Yuan Shikai silver dollar" from the third year of the Republic of China is the most common, cheapest, most abundant, and most widely circulated. Of course, the specific price depends on the version.

In the recent collectors' market, the price of Yuan Shikai silver dollars has been rising year by year, and some predict that the price has not yet peaked. One after another, high-priced Yuan Shikai dollars have ignited the collectors' market, creating a surge in the popularity of collecting them. So, why are Yuan Shikai silver dollars so popular? The reason lies in their collectible value; in the world of coin collecting, the "Yuan Shikai silver dollar" is considered a treasure among silver coins.

The "Yuan Shikai Dollar" represents the monetary culture of modern China, possessing high aesthetic and cultural value, and also serving as a store of value. Although the "Yuan Shikai Dollar" is relatively common in the current collector's market and its price is not too high, its long period of non-circulation, coupled with the large-scale exchange during the early years of the People's Republic of China, has resulted in a limited number remaining in circulation. Furthermore, many have been lost in the process of collecting and circulating, thus determining its enormous potential for appreciation.