10 dollars 1931

Common. The eBay market data showing a recent UNC sale at $12.50 USD with modest bidding activity indicates this is a readily available note in the collector market. While the Kwangtung Provincial Bank issues have historical significance, they were produced in substantial quantities by ABNC and remain common in today's market. The denomination (10 dollars) was a standard circulation note rather than a commemorative or limited issue, and no evidence of recall, short print run, or extreme scarcity exists for this Pick number in this condition.

The Kwangtung (Guangdong) Provincial Bank issued this note during the Republic of China period (1912-1949), a tumultuous era of political fragmentation when provincial authorities often issued their own currency. The classical bank building depicted on the reverse represents institutional confidence and modern banking practices adopted by regional governments attempting to establish fiscal legitimacy. This 1931 issue predates Japan's full-scale invasion of China by six years, capturing a moment when provincial banking infrastructure was being formalized and professionalized through Western printing techniques.

The obverse features a formal portrait of a male dignitary (likely a provincial official or banker) positioned in an oval frame on the right side, rendered with fine line engraving characteristic of security printing. The left side displays a large ornate circular seal or medallion containing multiple Chinese characters arranged in traditional format, serving as the issuing authority's official stamp. The reverse showcases a symmetrical classical building with multiple stories, regular window placements, a central entrance, and what appears to be a flag mounted on the roof—depicting either the bank's headquarters or an important provincial government building. Decorative corner ornaments, scrollwork, and geometric borders in traditional Chinese design elements frame both sides. The denomination '10' appears in ornamental circles, with English text promising payment on demand, identifying this as local currency.

FRONT: 廣東省銀行 (Bank of Guangdong Province / Kwangtung Provincial Bank); 中華民國 (Republic of China); Serial number E549409. BACK: THE KWANGTUNG PROVINCIAL BANK; PROMISES TO PAY THE BEARER ON DEMAND AT ITS OFFICE HERE; TEN DOLLARS; LOCAL CURRENCY; 1931; AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY (printer); Serial number E549409. The note is designated as legal tender local currency of Guangdong Province during 1931.

Intaglio engraving (recess printing), executed by the American Bank Note Company (ABNC), one of the world's foremost security printers. The fine-line engraving visible throughout—particularly in the portrait, circular seal, building illustration, and border ornaments—is characteristic of high-security banknote production. The precision of detail, the layered ornamental patterns, and the quality of impression are consistent with ABNC's established standards for currency production during this era. Multiple color application (pink/red on front, brown/sepia on back) was achieved through sequential plate impressions.

This note is identified as Pick S2422d, indicating it is variety 'd' within the catalog numbering for this issue. The catalog reference indicates signatures D-E-F as specified on this variant. The serial number E549409 is consistent with the prefix series documented for this printing. ABNC's signature varieties and minor serial number prefix variations exist within the 1931 Kwangtung Provincial Bank 10 Dollar issue, but this represents a standard example of the denomination without notable overprints or printing errors observed in the visual analysis.