TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Central Bank (中央銀行) revealed on Friday (Dec. 20) that designing and minting coins to celebrate the national team's victory in the WBSC Premier12 tournament would take at least six months, posing challenges in meeting market demand promptly. The bank's comment came after baseball fans in Taiwan urged to issue commemorative coins following the national team's victory in defeating Japan to claim the championship at the Nov. 24 finals.
Several individuals have suggested replacing the image of the "Nanwang Baseball Team" (南王國小少棒隊) on the NT$500 bill with the current champion team's image. Legislators have discussed with the government the possibility of issuing commemorative coins similar to the zodiac coin sets. However, the central bank expressed concerns about the lengthy scheduling process for coin minting, which typically requires over a year of planning and budget allocation.
The central bank also noted the timing issue, as Taiwan will participate in the World Baseball Classic qualifiers in February next year. "We worry that before the commemorative coin is released, another championship might occur," a central bank official stated. The popularity of this coin post-release remains a consideration, given the established procedures that require Executive Yuan (行政院) approval.
The recent WBSC Premier12 tournament garnered significant attention, with 83,501 spectators attending the super round. The championship match between Japan and Taiwan attracted 42,000 fans, surpassing the 36,000 attendees at the 2023 World Baseball Classic final. Looking ahead, the WBSC announced in October that the 2027 Premier12 will expand to 16 teams and serve as a qualifier for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
