1 dollar 1920

Common. The eBay price data shows a wide range of sales from $38-$1,450, with most examples in circulated conditions (F, VF, XF) trading in the $42-$179 range, indicating a readily available note with modest collector demand. The EF condition grade of this specimen places it above the most common circulated examples but below the scarcer uncirculated grades. Multiple examples appearing regularly in the market at relatively modest price points confirms this is a standard provincial issue rather than a scarce or rare variety.

Issued during the Republic of China's early years (dated to the 12th year of the ROC era, corresponding to 1923 in Western calendar, though catalogued as 1920), this note reflects the complex provincial banking landscape of post-imperial China when regional banks competed with central authority. The Provincional Bank of Chihli (also known as Kung Tsi Bank of Fengtien) issued currency from Tientsin, a major treaty port, representing the economic fragmentation and foreign commercial influence characteristic of the 1920s Chinese warlord period. The architectural imagery and bilingual English-Chinese text demonstrate the Western printing standards and international commercial orientation of major Chinese ports during this era.

The obverse features a classical engraved design centered on a multi-tiered traditional Chinese pagoda or tower with curved roofs rendered in fine detail within an ornamental oval frame positioned on the left side of the note. This architectural landmark represents typical Chinese imperial-era construction imagery popular in Republican currency design. The right side contains an elaborate cloud-bordered cartouche (a hallmark of Chinese numismatic design) with the denomination prominently displayed. The design employs a black and dark green color scheme on a cream background, with red official seals placed in the upper right and lower portions—standard security and authenticity markers for Chinese provincial notes. The reverse maintains design continuity with an ornate green cartouche containing bank identification in both English and Chinese, flanked by elaborate foliate corner flourishes and fine geometric background pattern work characteristic of ABNC (American Bank Note Company) engraving standards.

FRONT: '中華民國十二年造' = 'Made in the 12th Year of the Republic of China'; '永遠通用不掛頭票' = 'Forever usable, cannot be cancelled/redeemed'; '圓銀壹百貳' = 'One Hundred and Twenty Silver Dollars' (note: appears to be 1 Dollar denomination per catalog); Serial number: M8778219. BACK: 'KUNG TSI BANK OF FENGTIEN' (English); '奉天銀行官票' = 'Fengtien Bank Official Note' (Chinese). Additional Chinese characters visible on front relate to the bank's official designation.

Steel plate engraving executed by the American Bank Note Company (ABNC), as indicated in the catalog data and confirmed by the fine line engraving quality visible throughout the design. The multi-color printing process employed separate passes for black (primary design and text), dark green (underprint and reverse), and red (seals and stamps). The intricate background pattern work, fine geometric details, and precise line rendering throughout the note are hallmarks of high-quality intaglio engraving typical of ABNC's work for Chinese provincial banks during this period.

This note is identified as Pick S1263b, with the 'b' designation indicating this is a specific variety within the S1263 series (likely differentiated by signature combination or minor design variation). The catalog notes the signature pair 'Ma-Chang without English titles' as the defining characteristic of this variety. The serial number prefix 'M' and the specific serial number format (8778219) may help distinguish printing batches, though without additional specimen comparison, the full extent of variety markers cannot be definitively established from a single note.