10 coppers 1928

Common. While early Chinese banknotes can be specialized collector items, this particular note (Pick P-167b, 10 Coppers 1928) shows regular circulation patterns and multiple sales at modest eBay prices. Recent comparable sales include VF at $22.50 (2025), UNC at $21.50 (2019), and various graded examples in the $50-220 range. The 2016 catalog value for VG is $7.50, and the note's availability in multiple grades and repeated eBay sales indicates a reasonable supply in the collector market. No evidence of a limited print run or recall status.

This 1928 note represents the Central Bank of China's monetary efforts during the early Republican period, when China was establishing its modern banking system. The pagoda imagery reflects traditional Chinese cultural and religious architecture, while the English bilingual text demonstrates the internationalization of Chinese banking and commerce during this era. The red overprint indicating validity specifically for Szechuan Province circulation reflects the fragmented monetary conditions across Republican China, where regional variations and provincial designations were common practice.

The obverse features a prominent multi-tiered pagoda tower in the center-left portion, rendered in fine engraved detail characteristic of early 20th-century banknote production. The pagoda appears to be a traditional Chinese religious or ceremonial structure with multiple levels and traditional architectural elements. All four corners display matching circular decorative medallions with geometric and floral patterns, typical of the security design elements of this era. The note is framed by ornate scrollwork borders with complex line patterns. The reverse continues the corner medallion design and adds an ornamental cartouche frame around the central denomination text, with printer information at the base. The overall color scheme employs brown, tan, and purple-grey tones with red overprint stamps on the obverse.

Front side: '中央銀行' (The Central Bank), '拾分' (Ten [denomination]). Back side: 'THE CENTRAL BANK OF CHINA' (English text at top), 'TEN COPPERS' (English denomination), '十分' (Ten in Chinese characters within central cartouche), 'CHUNG HWA BUCK CO. LTD.' (printer identification). Note also includes red overprint reading '5 Fen (5 Cents)' with text indicating 'Legal tender for circulation in Szechuan Province' per catalog reference.

Intaglio (line engraving) printing, as evidenced by the fine detailed line work, ornate decorative patterns, and complex border designs visible in both the visual analysis and characteristic of Central Bank of China notes from this period. The printer CHUNG HWA BUCK CO. LTD. (or similar variant) is identified on the reverse. The red overprints appear to have been applied as a secondary stamp operation, likely for provincial validation purposes.

This is identified as Pick catalog number P-167b specifically, indicating it is the 'b' variety of the 10 Coppers 1928 issue. The red overprint indicating '5 Fen (5 Cents)' validity for Szechuan Province circulation appears to be a defining characteristic of this specific variety. The presence of the red provincial overprint distinguishes this from potential varieties without such overprints. No signature variations are clearly discernible from the visual analysis provided, but the printer attribution to CHUNG HWA BUCK CO. LTD. is consistent with documented printings of this series.