100 dollars 1918

Common. While this is a regional Chinese issue from the early Republic period, the Kwangtung Provincial Bank circulated actively and produced substantial quantities of this denomination. The eBay market data provided shows multiple sales across different condition grades ($49.99 to $1,139.05), with regular listings at accessible prices ($50-500 range depending on condition). EF examples are consistently available at moderate prices, indicating adequate supply in the collector market. Regional Chinese bank notes from this period, while historically significant, were produced in quantities sufficient to maintain common status.

The Kwangtung (Guangdong) Provincial Bank was one of several regional issuing authorities established during the early Chinese Republic, reflecting the decentralized financial structure of the 1910s-1920s period. The prominent institutional building depicted on the obverse—likely representing either a bank building or administrative structure in Canton—symbolizes the modernization efforts and Western influence present in this coastal commercial center. The dual English-Chinese inscriptions and ABNC printing reflect the international banking practices of the era, with Canton serving as a major treaty port facilitating trade between China and Western powers.

This banknote exemplifies the hybrid design aesthetic characteristic of early 20th-century Chinese regional currency. The obverse features a large institutional building with a prominent tower—likely representing a significant administrative, educational, or commercial structure in Canton—rendered as the central vignette within a composition of ornate gray and red decorative borders. Red seal stamps positioned on both left and right sides reference traditional Chinese security practices. The reverse is dominated by large ornamental numerals '100' enclosed within an elaborate guilloche security pattern, surrounded by symmetrical decorative corner motifs in gray and black. Both sides employ classical scrollwork frames and fine-line ornamental elements typical of ABNC security printing. The dual-language text (English and Traditional Chinese) reflects the international commercial context of the issuing bank and its intended use in treaty port commerce.

OBVERSE: 廣東省銀行兌換券 (Kwangtung Provincial Bank Exchange Note) / 圓百壹 (One Hundred Yuan) / 中華民國 (Republic of China) / 惠兌銀行通用圓銀使換券 (General Bank Exchange Certificate) / AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY, NEW YORK / Serial number: 019101. REVERSE: THE PROVINCIAL BANK OF KWANG TUNG PROVINCE / PROMISES TO PAY THE BEARER ON DEMAND ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS / CANTON / JAN 1918 / 壹佰圓 (One Hundred Yuan) / AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY, NEW YORK / Serial number: No 019101.

Intaglio engraving with high-resolution guilloche security patterns, executed by the American Bank Note Company (ABNC) in New York. The note exhibits sophisticated security features including intricate fine-line background patterns, elaborate ornamental borders, and complex geometric designs characteristic of ABNC's premium currency production. The multi-color printing on the obverse (olive-green on multicolor underprint) and blue-black on reverse employed separate plates and careful registration typical of professional bank note manufacture of the era.

This specimen is identified as Pick S2405c (variant c), indicating multiple varieties exist for this 100 yuan denomination from the Kwangtung Provincial Bank 1918 issue. Serial number 019101 is low, suggesting an early print run. The visual analysis confirms printed English signatures without titles, consistent with the catalog notation. The dual-language format (English on reverse with 'PROMISES TO PAY THE BEARER ON DEMAND ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS') is characteristic of this issue's design. Reference designation S/M #K55-24b indicates additional cataloging in specialized Chinese currency references.