10 yuan 1922
Market Prices
About This Note
This is a striking 1922 Sino-Scandinavian Bank 10 Yuan note featuring classical Chinese and Western design elements reflecting early Republican-era international banking. The front displays an ornate oval landscape vignette of a waterfront hillside settlement with pagoda, framed by elaborate floral and geometric borders in red and tan tones, while the reverse showcases a detailed engraving of a traditional Asian merchant vessel under sail. In VF condition, the note exhibits expected aging with foxing and creasing consistent with circulation, but retains good legibility and strong visual presence.
Common. eBay market data shows VF specimens regularly trading in the $120-$250 range, with multiple examples consistently available across various condition grades. The note is a regular issue from an established international bank with presumed adequate print runs for circulation. Pricing patterns demonstrate stable collector demand without scarcity premiums typical of rare issues.
Issued February 1, 1922, this note represents a fascinating intersection of Chinese sovereignty and Scandinavian banking interests during the early Republic period. The Sino-Scandinavian Bank, operating from Peking, issued currency backed by international commercial confidence, with its reverse imagery of a traditional Chinese trading vessel symbolizing maritime commerce and the bridge between Eastern and Western economies during this transitional period in Chinese financial history.
The obverse features a classical oval vignette depicting a scenic waterfront landscape with hillside buildings and a prominent pagoda or tower structure on the elevated terrain, surrounded by water. The composition is framed by ornate rosette patterns in the four corners and an intricate geometric border with alternating decorative elements. The reverse presents a detailed maritime vignette of a traditional Chinese junk or merchant vessel with characteristic multi-sail configuration, set against an ocean backdrop, similarly framed by corner floral emblems and decorative rosette designs. The overall aesthetic combines Chinese artistic traditions with Western banknote security printing conventions, reflecting the cosmopolitan nature of early 1920s Shanghai/Peking banking.
FRONT SIDE: Serial number (upper corners): c0011826 | Chinese characters: 華民國銀行 (Chinese Republic Bank), 中華民國 (Republic of China), 民國十年 (Year 10 of the Republic, corresponding to 1921). BACK SIDE: THE SINO-SCANDINAVIAN BANK | PEKING | TEN YUAN | FEB. 1ST 1922 | 十圓 (Ten Yuan) | BUREAU OF ENGRAVING AND PRINTING BY CHINA
Intaglio engraving (recess printing), as evidenced by the fine line work, intricate geometric patterns, complex border designs, and the depth visible in the vignette details. The note was produced by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing by China, employing traditional currency security printing methods with multiple impression points for the ornate decorative elements and portrait-quality vignette rendering.
This specimen is cataloged as P-S589a (the 'a' variety designation). The observed serial number c0011826 in red text represents the standard serial numbering for this issue. No overprints or special markings are noted. Variations may exist in serial number prefixes or colors across the full print run, but this example appears to be a standard variety from the initial 1922 release.
