10 000 gold yuan 1949

Common. The eBay price tracking data shows this note regularly trades in the $5-$75 range depending on condition and grading service, with most sales falling between $10-$30. AU condition examples have sold for $13-$29 in recent transactions. The denomination, while high-value for the period, was part of a standard circulation issue by the Central Bank of China in its final year of operation. No evidence suggests a limited print run or significant rarity.

Issued in 1949, this note represents the Central Bank of China's final currency series before the establishment of the People's Republic of China. The reverse depicts an industrial harbor with bridge and ships, symbolizing China's modernization efforts during the Republic era. The portrait on the obverse likely represents a prominent nationalist figure of the period, reflecting the Nationalist government's authority as it faced its final months of rule in mainland China.

The obverse features an ornate blue design on cream background with a portrait of Chiang Kai-shek in military uniform with peaked cap, positioned on the right side in profile facing left. The center displays an elaborate floral medallion containing Chinese denomination text, flanked by decorative corner ornaments and scrollwork. Red serial numbers (519700) appear in rectangular seals on both sides of the central design. The reverse showcases a detailed engraved industrial scene depicting what appears to be a major Chinese port facility, likely representing Shanghai or another major treaty port, with a prominent steel truss or cantilever bridge spanning the waterway, multiple ships in harbor, factory smokestacks, and harbor infrastructure. Four corners contain ornamental medallions with '10000' denomination numerals. The design employs complex guilloche patterns and fine-line engraving throughout, with signature lines at the bottom for the Governor and General Manager.

FRONT: 中央銀行 (Central Bank) / 壹萬圓金 (Ten Thousand Gold Yuan) / 壹萬圓 (Ten Thousand Yuan) / 519700 (Serial number). BACK: THE CENTRAL BANK OF CHINA / TEN THOUSAND GOLD YUAN / 1949 (Year of issue) / 10000 (Denomination, appears in four corners) / GENERAL MANAGER / GOVERNOR / CHUNG HWA BOOK CO. LTD (Printer) / Cao (Signature - General Manager) / Fan (Signature - Governor).

Intaglio engraving (line engraving) on cream/beige paper stock. The fine detail work, ornamental guilloche patterns, and the three-color printing (blue primary color with red serial numbers on cream background) are characteristic of high-security banknote production. Printed by Chung Hwa Book Company Limited (CHB), as indicated on the reverse and confirmed by the S/M #C302-61 catalog reference.

This example carries serial number 519700 and exhibits signatures identified as 'Cao' (General Manager) and 'Fan' (Governor). Varieties of this Pick 416 note are known to exist with different signature combinations and possibly different serial number prefixes, reflecting changes in banking officials during 1949. The specific combination of signatories on this note may indicate a later printing within the 1949 issue year.