Who Would Buy a ¥49 Commemorative Coin? 3 Million Visitors Vote with Their Wallets, Outperforming Internet-Famous Cultural and Creative Products in Conversion Rate

"Spend ¥49 on a metal coin? I’d rather add ¥10 for a Starbucks!" "Museum cultural and creative products should be affordable—this is just fleecing tourists!" "Internet-famous keychains and refrigerator magnets sell better; commemorative coins are just space-wasting decorations!"

When it comes to commemorative coin laser engraving machines in museums, doubts never cease. But when the full-year real data from 6 venues including the Memorial Museum of the First National Congress of the Communist Party of China (Shanghai) and Hunan Museum were revealed, these complaints were instantly silenced. This underrated "small machine" has proven with solid sales that ¥49 commemorative coins are more popular than ¥19.9 internet-famous cultural and creative products.

Who is paying for ¥49 commemorative coins? The answer lies in the choices of 3 million visitors. The Memorial Museum of the First National Congress of the Communist Party of China (Shanghai) received approximately 3 million visitors annually and sold 42,811 commemorative coins—meaning 1 out of every 70 visitors was willing to pay for this metal coin. How impressive is this conversion rate? Compared to internet-famous cultural and creative products in the venue: the conversion rate of ¥19.9 keychains was only 0.3%, and that of ¥29.9 refrigerator magnets was 0.5%. The 1.43% conversion rate of commemorative coins is 2.8 to 4.8 times higher.

Not only do large venues sell well, but small and medium-sized venues also achieve stable profits with these machines. China Railway Museum had only 200,000 annual visitors—less than 1/15 of the Memorial Museum of the First National Congress of the Communist Party of China (Shanghai)—yet sold 9,135 commemorative coins, generating ¥439,900 in revenue. Beijing Lu Xun Museum, with 510,000 visitors, sold 8,685 coins annually, maintaining a stable daily sales volume of over 23. It’s worth noting that many best-selling items in cultural and creative stores struggle to exceed 10,000 units in annual sales, but this laser engraving machine achieves consistent hot sales solely through the selling point of "exclusive engraving."

Tourists are not "foolish with money"—they are driven by the core demand of "taking culture home." Ordinary cultural and creative products are mass-produced and identical, while commemorative coins can be customized with names and visit dates. Backed by the museum’s cultural IP, ¥49 becomes "irreplaceable ritual sense." A parent commented: "After taking my child to visit the First National Congress Memorial, engraving his name and the visit year is more meaningful than any toy. When he grows up, it will be a precious souvenir of his growth." Another tourist traveled specifically to collect coins: "Collecting commemorative coins from different museums, each engraved with exclusive memories—this is a sense of collection that internet-famous cultural and creative products cannot provide."

More surprisingly, these commemorative coins have broken the curse of "difficult profitability for cultural and creative products." The 6 venues sold over 110,000 commemorative coins annually, with a total revenue exceeding ¥5.67 million. The Memorial Museum of the First National Congress of the Communist Party of China (Shanghai) achieved ¥2.0937 million in annual revenue from a single machine—equivalent to the total annual revenue of 15 ordinary cultural and creative stalls. Even Henan Museum, with the lowest sales volume, generated ¥348,000 in revenue from 7,133 coins sold annually, surpassing the annual profits of many independent cultural and creative stores.

In terms of profit sharing, the profit margin for operators is beyond imagination. China National Film Museum and China Railway Museum offer a 30% profit-sharing ratio, yet operators still achieved annual net profits of ¥378,000 and ¥216,000 respectively. With a 50% profit-sharing ratio at the Memorial Museum of the First National Congress of the Communist Party of China (Shanghai), the operator’s annual net profit soared to ¥733,800. In contrast, after deducting design, production, and inventory costs, the net profit margin of internet-famous cultural and creative products is often less than 20%, with the risk of unsold stock.

Why can ¥49 commemorative coins outperform internet-famous cultural and creative products? The key lies in "irreplaceability." Internet-famous products compete on appearance and novelty, which fade quickly; commemorative coins, however, rely on cultural value and exclusivity. The engraved names, dates, and museum logos transform them from "commodities" into "emotional carriers of memories." Tourists are not buying a metal coin, but an extension of their visit, an expression of cultural identity, and a souvenir that can be cherished for a lifetime.

Looking back at the initial doubt: "Who would buy a ¥49 commemorative coin?" The answer is clear—parents who value ritual sense, cultural and tourism enthusiasts who love collecting, and ordinary tourists who want to preserve exclusive memories. 3 million visitors have voted with their wallets: cultural and creative products are not necessarily easier to sell when cheaper. As long as they meet consumer needs, ¥49 commemorative coins can still defeat internet-famous products and become a "profit dark horse" in museums.

Finally, we want to ask you: Would you buy a ¥49 exclusive commemorative coin when visiting a museum? Do you think the core competitiveness of cultural and creative products lies in price, appearance, or cultural value? Share your thoughts in the comments!