5 dollars 1931

Common. Despite its historical significance and foreign issuer, this note appears in the market with reasonable frequency. The eBay comparable sale data shows a recent UNC specimen selling for $12.50, indicating modest collector demand and wide availability. The Kwangtung Provincial Bank issued notes in substantial quantities during 1931, and no documented scarcity or recall issues affect this Pick number. The straightforward catalog designation (S2422d) suggests multiple varieties exist, further supporting a common classification.

The Kwangtung Provincial Bank issued this 5 dollars note in 1931 during the Republic of China era, a period of significant regional autonomy and competing provincial banking authority in southern China. The architectural prominence of the bank building on the reverse and the classical portraiture reflect the institutional confidence and modernization aspirations of Guangdong province during this transitional period between imperial and republican governance. The bilingual design (Chinese and English) indicates the cosmopolitan commercial environment and foreign trading influence present in Guangdong at this time.

The obverse features a formal portrait of a dignified male figure in Western business attire, positioned within an ornamental oval medallion on the right side of the note. The left side displays an elaborate decorative dragon or mythical creature design in green and pink, characteristic of Chinese imperial iconography adapted for modern currency. The reverse showcases a symmetrical multi-story institutional building with classical architectural elements, including a central pagoda-style roof feature, rendered in orange/salmon tones against a white field. The overall design employs ornamental corner elements featuring the numeral '5' in decorative frames, wavy borders, and fine scrollwork consistent with high-security engraved banknote production of the period.

Front side: 廣東省銀行 (Kwangtung Provincial Bank), 五 (Five), 銀 (Silver/Currency), 中華民國 (Republic of China), and serial number BA699960. Back side: THE KWANGTUNG PROVINCIAL BANK, PROMISES TO PAY THE BEARER ON DEMAND AT ITS OFFICE HERE, FIVE DOLLARS, LOCAL CURRENCY, 1931, serial number BA699960, N° (Number), and AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY (the printing firm).

Intaglio (engraved) printing executed by the American Bank Note Company (ABNC), one of the world's premier security printers. The fine line engraving, detailed portrait work, complex ornamental borders, and intricate security patterns visible throughout the note are characteristic of ABNC's professional standards. The multicolor printing on the obverse and single-color (orange) reverse demonstrate the sophisticated offset and intaglio combination techniques employed for provincial Chinese currency of this era.

This specimen is identified as Pick S2422d variety, which corresponds to signature combination D-E-F according to Schulman-Moody catalog reference K56-10d. The serial number BA699960 indicates this is from the regular production series. The presence of purple/dark red ink stamps or authentication marks on the front may indicate post-issuance bank handling marks rather than printing varieties. No overprints or unusual variants are evident from the visual examination of this particular specimen.