1 yuan 1925
Market Prices
About This Note
This is an AU-grade 1925 Bank of the Northwest 1 yuan note featuring striking blue-on-light underprint design with a railway station illustration at left and ornamental medallion at right. The note displays typical early 20th-century Chinese currency characteristics with bilingual (Chinese/English) inscriptions, red official seals, and detailed engraved security features. Despite visible aging, foxing, and creasing consistent with circulated currency from this era, the note remains in above-average condition with clear imagery and legible text.
common
The Bank of the Northwest was a regional issuing authority during China's Republic period (1912-1949), operating from Fengchen (豐鎮) in Inner Mongolia. The railway station imagery depicted on the obverse reflects China's early modernization period, when railroad development was a key symbol of industrial progress and national development. Issued on March 1st, 1925, this note represents the transitional period of Chinese regional finance before the consolidation of national banking systems.
The obverse features a classical Chinese banknote design with a framed railway station or industrial facility illustration at left, complete with utility poles, power lines, and architectural details representing early 20th-century modernization. The right side displays a large star-shaped ornamental medallion containing a Chinese character. Decorative quatrefoil patterns appear in all corners, with geometric background patterns and fine line work throughout. The reverse side showcases a more elaborate ornamental design with a large central medallion featuring what appears to be heraldic or mythical creature motifs (possibly dragon or caduceus symbolism), flanked by two smaller decorative cartouches. Corner elements include bear or lion head emblems. The color scheme of blue ink on cream/light background with red official chops and numerals is characteristic of this period and issuer.
FRONT SIDE: 西北銀行 (Bank of the Northwest) | 壹圓 (One Yuan) | 豐鎮 (Fengzhen/Fengchen) | 中華民國四十國民 (Republic of China) | Serial numbers: 0026507 (appears twice). BACK SIDE: BANK OF THE NORTHWEST (English header) | ONE YUAN (English denomination) | FENGCHEN (location transliteration) | MARCH 1ST 1925 (issue date) | PROMISES TO PAY THE BEARER ON DEMAND AT ITS OFFICE HERE ONE YUAN - LOCAL CURRENCY (promise clause) | Handwritten signatures of authorized officials (script not clearly legible in visual analysis).
Intaglio engraving (copperplate/steel plate printing) by BEPP (British-American Banknote Company) or Fengchen printer, evidenced by the fine detailed line work, ornamental borders, geometric patterns, and crisp definition of illustrations visible in the visual analysis. The detailed railway station scene and ornamental medallions show the characteristic depth and detail possible only through intaglio methods. Red chop seals appear to be applied by separate chop/stamp process typical of Chinese currency of this period.
This specimen is cataloged as Pick S3871a (the 'a' variety designation). The note is dated March 1st, 1925 from Fengchen. Serial number 0026507 is recorded on both sides. The specific variety S3871a typically indicates this is the first known state or issue of this design from the Bank of the Northwest. Variations in this series would likely include different serial number ranges, signature differences, or slight design modifications that would be denoted by subsequent 'b', 'c' designations in the Pick catalog. No overprints are visible in the visual analysis, confirming the regular issue status.
