1 custom gold unit 1930
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19 salesAbout This Note
This 1930 Central Bank of China 1 Customs Gold Unit (Pick P-325d) presents an excellent example of early Republican-era Chinese currency from the American Bank Note Company. The note features a formal portrait of Sun Yat-sen in brown engraving on the obverse, with the distinctive neoclassical Central Bank building depicted on the reverse, reflecting China's modernization aspirations during this period. In VF condition with light foxing and aged patina typical of 1920s-era banknotes, this piece shows good preservation with intricate security printing intact.
Common. The eBay price history shows consistent sales activity with VF examples selling in the $3.75–$9.01 range (2020–2022), and the 2016 catalog value for VF is listed at $3.50. The regular Issue designation, substantial production run typical of Central Bank currency, and abundant market availability indicate this is not a scarce variety. While collectible and desirable for Chinese numismatic collections, it commands modest valuations typical of common banknotes from this period.
The Central Bank of China's Customs Gold Unit notes were issued during the early Republic period when China sought to stabilize its currency and modernize its financial institutions. The 1930 date coincides with the Nationalist consolidation period under the Kuomintang, when the Central Bank served as the primary government financial authority. The architectural prominence of the Central Bank building on the reverse symbolizes the institution's role in China's efforts to establish modern banking infrastructure and financial credibility during a turbulent transitional era.
The obverse features a formal portrait of Sun Yat-sen (the founding father of the Chinese Republic) rendered in brown intaglio engraving, centered within an ornate guilloche border with scrollwork corner flourishes. Below the portrait sits an elaborate decorative emblem with interlocking geometric patterns in red and green, flanked by red rectangular seals—typical security features of the period. The reverse displays the Central Bank of China's neoclassical headquarters building with a prominent clock tower, featuring detailed architectural rendering including columns, windows, and clock face detail. The reverse maintains the ornate border design and includes English-language promise-to-pay text and signature lines for General Manager and Assistant General Manager, consistent with international banking standards of the era. The overall design reflects the hybrid Sino-Western aesthetic of early Republican Chinese currency.
OBVERSE: 中央銀行 (Central Bank); 上海 (Shanghai); 憑票兌現 (Redeemable on Demand); 關金券 (Customs Gold Unit). REVERSE (English): 'THE CENTRAL BANK OF CHINA' / 'PROMISES TO PAY THE BEARER ON DEMAND AT ITS OFFICE HERE' / 'ONE CUSTOMS GOLD UNIT' / 'GENERAL MANAGER ASST. GENERAL MANAGER' / 'AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY' / Serial number: GD4982298 with 'NO.' designation.
Intaglio (steel engraving) printing by the American Bank Note Company (ABNC), as noted on the reverse. The fine line work visible in the portrait rendering, intricate guilloche patterns in the borders, and detailed architectural rendering of the bank building are characteristic of high-security intaglio printing. The precise engraved signatures and numerical serial number further confirm steel plate intaglio methodology, which was the gold standard for security printing during this period.
This note is cataloged as P-325d, indicating it is the 'd' variety of the 1930 1 Customs Gold Unit issue. The visual analysis confirms this is the regular issue with the standard Central Bank of China design, ABNC printing, Shanghai issue, with signature lines for General Manager and Assistant General Manager. The serial number GD4982298 observed on this particular specimen is characteristic of the Shanghai printing run. No obvious overprints, date variations, or signature substitutions are noted, consistent with the regular issue designation.
