100 yuan 1941

Common. Despite being an 82+ year-old banknote from a specific historical period, this Pick P-243 100 Yuan note circulates actively in the collector market and regularly appears in auction results. eBay historical sales data spanning from 2009 to 2026 shows consistent, high-frequency transactions with prices ranging from under $1 to approximately $127.50, with most UNC and near-UNC specimens selling in the $4-$15 range. The 2016 catalog value for UNC ($4) and the consistent supply of available examples across all condition grades indicate a well-distributed print run and sustained collector availability. The note's popularity among Chinese currency collectors and the relative abundance of surviving examples confirm its status as a common date.

Issued in 1941 during the Second Sino-Japanese War, this banknote represents the Central Bank of China's monetary operations under increasingly challenging wartime conditions. The formal design with bilingual English/Chinese inscriptions reflects the international standing the bank sought to maintain, while the dated marking of 'Republic of China Year 23' (1941 in the traditional Chinese calendar) places it precisely within the wartime period when Chinese currency faced significant inflationary pressures. The Security Banknote Company's involvement as printer demonstrates the continued use of professional security printing techniques despite the geopolitical turmoil of the era.

The obverse features a formal portrait of an unidentified male official in Western-style formal attire, positioned within a decorative oval portrait frame on the left side of the note. This is characteristic of Central Bank of China currency from the era. The center of the note contains an ornamental cartouche with Chinese characters rendered in traditional calligraphic style. The entire design is executed in fine line work and cross-hatching typical of security engraving, with multiple corner medallions displaying denomination information in both Chinese and English. The reverse maintains the symmetrical ornamental approach, with a large central cartouche containing '100' as the primary denomination display, flanked by corner medallions. Decorative geometric and floral border patterns frame the entire design. The bilingual presentation (Chinese/English) emphasizes the note's international character and the Central Bank's status as a modern financial institution.

FRONT SIDE: '中央銀行' (Central Bank), '壹佰圓' (One Hundred Yuan), '圓佰壹' (One Hundred Yuan - alternate ordering), '百壹' (One Hundred), 'F4713337' (Serial Number), '中華民國二十三國印' (Republic of China Year 23, Printed). BACK SIDE: 'THE CENTRAL BANK OF CHINA', '100' (Denomination), 'ONE HUNDRED YUAN', 'F4713337' (Serial Number), 'ASST.GENERAL MANAGER', 'GENERAL MANAGER', '1941' (Issue Year), 'SECURITY BANKNOTE COMPANY' (Printer).

Intaglio engraving, executed by the Security Banknote Company (SBNC). The visual analysis confirms the characteristic fine line work, intricate cross-hatching, and detailed engraving evident throughout both sides of the note. The precision of the oval portrait frame, the ornamental cartouches, and the decorative border patterns are all hallmarks of high-quality intaglio security printing. No evidence of letterpress, lithography, or other printing techniques is visible; the note employs traditional engraved steel plate printing suitable for security currency production.

The observed serial number 'F4713337' indicates this specific specimen. Serial number prefixes (such as the 'F' prefix observed here) can denote different printing batches or signature varieties. The dated marking '中華民國二十三國印' (ROC Year 23) is consistent with the 1941 issue date. No overprints or significant varieties are visible in the examined specimen. For this Pick number, variations may exist in signature combinations (General Manager and Assistant General Manager positions), which could represent distinct varieties, though the standard reference catalogs (Pick, etc.) typically do not distinguish these as separate catalog numbers unless accompanied by significant design changes.