10 cents 1935

Common. This is a regular issue note from a provincial bank with what would have been substantial circulation, and the Pick catalog designation indicates it is a standard cataloged variety. The eBay market data showing a PMG 64 example selling for $33 in late 2024 establishes this as an affordable, commonly available note in the collector market. While uncirculated examples command modest premiums over circulated specimens, there is no evidence of restricted print runs, emergency issues, or short-lived issuing authority that would elevate rarity status.

Issued in 1935 (Year 24 of the Republic of China), this note represents the Kwangtung (Guangdong) Provincial Bank's local currency during a period of significant political fragmentation in China when regional banks maintained considerable autonomy. The maritime imagery—featuring traditional junks and harbor scenes—reflects the province's historical importance as a major trading center and its maritime heritage, while the English-language inscriptions and American Bank Note Company printing demonstrate the international commercial standards and foreign investment influences characteristic of treaty port China during this era.

The obverse features a formal portrait of a middle-aged dignitary with facial hair, positioned within an oval frame on the right side, likely representing a provincial official or bank authority figure of the period. The left side showcases an elaborate multi-layered rosette seal design with intricate geometric patterns rendered in traditional Chinese decorative style. The reverse depicts a tranquil harbor scene with multiple traditional Chinese junks displaying their characteristic large sails, a steamship visible in the distance, and mountainous terrain in the background—a composition emphasizing Guangdong's maritime commerce and natural geography. Both sides feature ornate decorative borders with floral and geometric motifs in all four corners, and denomination numerals '10' are displayed within rosette frames on the reverse. The overall design reflects the aesthetic conventions of early 20th-century regional Chinese banking while incorporating Western printing standards.

Front side: Serial number C8566259; '中央銀行' (Central Bank); '廣東省銀行' (Guangdong Provincial Bank); '民國二十四年' (Year 24 of the Republic, corresponding to 1935); '金銀兌現憑票' (Redeemable in gold and silver on presentation of this note); and official seal characters. Back side: 'THE KWANGTUNG PROVINCIAL BANK'; '10' (denomination in ornate rosettes); '1935' (year); 'TEN CENTS'; 'LOCAL CURRENCY'; 'PROMISES TO PAY THE BEARER ON DEMAND AT ITS OFFICE HERE'; and 'AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY' (printer attribution).

Engraved intaglio printing by American Bank Note Company (ABNC), as credited on the reverse. The visual analysis reveals characteristic fine line engraving work throughout, including complex parallel line patterns in backgrounds, detailed facial features and clothing in the portrait, intricate sail and water reflection linework on the reverse, and elaborate rosette designs with multiple color layers. The multicolor underprint technique creates the pink/rose dominant coloring with tan/beige backgrounds, typical of high-security banknote production from this era. The sharp definition and fine detail preservation observed in this uncirculated specimen exemplifies ABNC's sophisticated printing capabilities.

This specimen corresponds to Pick S2436a, identified as the variety without place name overprint (matching Schwan/Mitton K56-30a catalog reference). The serial number C8566259 and the specific red-on-multicolor printing characteristics confirm this as the standard 1935 Kwangtung Provincial Bank regular issue. No overprints, date variations, or signature varieties are evident in this example.