10 000 yuan 1949

Common. While this is an attractive and historically significant 1949 PBOC issue, eBay market data demonstrates consistent availability with numerous sales across multiple condition grades from 2012 through 2024. Current valuations for VF specimens ($150-$300 catalog value) align with typical mid-range early PRC notes. The presence of 30+ documented eBay sales over a 12-year period, including regularly appearing F and AUNC specimens, confirms this denomination enters the market with reasonable frequency. No specific print run restrictions or recall history elevates this to rarity status.

Issued in 1949 as the People's Bank of China asserted monetary control following the communist revolution, this denomination represents a critical moment in Chinese financial history when the new government needed to establish currency credibility. The prominent steamship imagery reflects the nation's aspirations for modernization and maritime commerce during the early PRC period, while the traditional Chinese decorative elements balanced revolutionary symbolism with cultural continuity. This early PBOC series was soon superseded by subsequent issues, making the 1949 series historically significant as the foundation of modern Chinese currency.

The obverse features a detailed engraving of a steam-powered oceangoing vessel in heavy seas as the central vignette, symbolizing industrial progress and maritime commerce. The vessel is flanked by ornate traditional Chinese decorative borders incorporating stylized foliage motifs and scrollwork in the corners. Two red rectangular authentication seals with Chinese characters frame the lower portion of the steamship. The reverse employs a symmetric design with large numeral denominations positioned center-left and center-right, surrounded by elaborate cartouche frames in all four corners and a central decorative panel featuring traditional Chinese scrollwork patterns. The color palette—cream/beige primary with black line work, red accents on front, and brown/rust tones on back—reflects the intaglio printing capabilities of the era.

Front side: '中國人民銀行' (People's Bank of China), '壹萬圓' (Ten Thousand Yuan), '年九四九一' (Year 1949), Serial number '14048102', and Roman numerals '(II III)' indicating series/plate identification. Back side: '中國人民銀行' (People's Bank of China), '壹萬圓' (Ten Thousand Yuan), Arabic numerals '10000' and '1949' repeating the denomination and date in Western format. Red seals with Chinese characters appear on both sides for authentication purposes.

Intaglio engraving and letterpress printing, as evidenced by the fine cross-hatching line work, precise border details, and the embossed quality visible in the security features. The intricate engraved line patterns in decorative areas and the crisp impression of the red seals indicate professional security printing standards. This note was produced by the PBOC's printing facilities during the early revolutionary period, utilizing traditional high-security engraving techniques to prevent counterfeiting.

This specimen exhibits series identification marking '(II III)' visible in the inscriptions, indicating a specific printing series within the 1949 issue. The serial number '14048102' places it within documented examples of the standard circulation printing. The S/M catalog reference C282-66 confirms attribution to the recognized variety for this Pick 854 denomination. No overprints, date variations, or signature variants are evident; this represents the standard 1949 type without special variety characteristics.