1 yuan 1944
About This Note
This is a 1944 Chinese Federal Reserve Bank 1 Yuan note in uncirculated condition, featuring a striking design with a bearded gentleman in traditional robes on the obverse and an ornate denomination reverse. The note displays excellent preservation with only light aging patina and minimal creasing, showcasing fine line engraving work throughout with decorative cloud motifs, red official seals, and a warm gold/cream color palette characteristic of mid-20th century Chinese currency.
Common. The Federal Reserve Bank of China issued multiple series of 1 Yuan notes during the 1940s, and 1944 denominations remain relatively available in the collector market. The UNC condition grade and lack of extreme rarity indicators (such as special overprints, error notes, or documented short print runs) further support a common classification. Standard circulation issues from this period and issuer typically appear regularly in collections and dealer inventories.
Issued during the turbulent final year of the Second Sino-Japanese War (1944), this note reflects the Federal Reserve Bank of China's wartime monetary role under the Republic of China government. The traditional Chinese architectural imagery and formal portraiture underscore the Nationalist government's cultural legitimacy during a period of national crisis, while the bilingual inscriptions (Chinese and Latin characters) demonstrate the note's role in international trade and the modernizing Chinese economy of the era.
The obverse features a formal portrait of a dignified bearded gentleman in traditional Chinese official robes with fur-lined shoulders, positioned on the right side of the composition. To the left stands an engraved illustration of a multi-story Chinese architectural structure, possibly a pagoda or administrative building, symbolizing institutional permanence and cultural heritage. The design is framed by an ornate geometric border with intricate decorative patterns, elaborate cloud scroll motifs in gold, and red official seals bearing Chinese characters. The reverse presents a symmetrical, formal design centered on a large numeral '1' flanked by Chinese denomination characters, bordered by ornamental scalloped frames and decorative rosette patterns in the corners, with the institution's name prominently displayed at top and bottom. The color scheme employs warm golds, creams, browns, and greens with black line work and red accents.
FRONT: Central cartouche contains '中國銀行合衡會信中' (Bank of China Unified Remittance Company); '壹圓' (One Yuan); '中華民國十四年中' (Chinese Republic Year 14, center position). BACK: Top inscription '中國銀行合衡會信中' (Bank of China Unified Remittance Company); Central denomination '壹' (One) and '圓' (Yuan) with Arabic numeral '1'; Bottom inscription '1IYUAN' (One Yuan in romanized form); '中華民國年十四中' (Chinese Republic Year 14, center position).
Intaglio engraving (line engraving/recess printing), evidenced by the fine line work, intricate border patterns, and detailed portrait rendering visible throughout the note. The security features and decorative elements are characteristic of high-quality banknote production typical of the Federal Reserve Bank of China's mid-20th century issues, with the fine tonal gradations and crisp detail suggesting professional security printing facilities.
This specimen corresponds to Pick P-J69 for the 1944 Federal Reserve Bank of China 1 Yuan note. Specific varieties of this issue may be distinguished by signature variations, serial number prefixes, or seal variants, though these details cannot be definitively assessed from the current images. The note appears to represent the standard design type for this catalog entry without evidence of overprints, error corrections, or commemorative markings that would distinguish it as a distinct variety.
