5 yuan 1945
About This Note
This is a Soviet Military 5 yuan banknote from 1945 (Pick M32), issued during the final months of World War II when Soviet forces operated in Manchuria. The note features elegant Art Deco-influenced design with ornamental cloud motifs and geometric borders in green and tan tones. In VF condition, the note displays age-appropriate foxing and staining particularly in the corners, with visible creasing and fading consistent with 80+ years of storage and handling.
Uncommon to scarce. Soviet military occupation currency from 1945 Manchuria has limited surviving examples due to the brief circulation period (August-September 1945 only), subsequent currency recalls and exchanges, and the passage of 80 years. The specific series HY 344585 variety and VF condition grade represent a desirable specimen, but the overall Pick M32 5 yuan is not commonly encountered in Western collections. Print runs were substantial for military purposes but survival rates were low.
This note represents a rare episode in monetary history: Soviet military currency circulated in occupied Manchuria during August-September 1945 following the Soviet invasion of Japanese-held territory. The inscription '蘇聯紅軍司令部' (Soviet Red Army Command) on the front and wartime counterfeiting warnings on the back reflect the emergency nature of this military occupation currency. The 1945 date and wartime legal penalty inscription underscore the geopolitical tensions and rapid military movements of the war's final weeks.
The banknote employs a symmetrical design with no portrait figures, instead relying on decorative ornamental elements. The front features a central rectangular cartouche containing Chinese characters for the denomination, flanked by stylized cloud formations with intricate foliage patterns—symbolic motifs common in Chinese traditional art. The corners display circular denomination markers with the numeral '5'. The back presents a simpler design with the denomination cartouche centrally positioned and decorative cloud and wave motifs in the corners. Fine-line engraving creates complex geometric and floral border patterns throughout both sides as anti-counterfeiting measures. The color scheme employs green, olive-green, and tan/beige inks on aged paper.
FRONT: '蘇聯紅軍司令部' = Soviet Red Army Command; '伍圓' = Five Yuan; '每一張必付使用' = Each sheet must be used; Serial number: HY 344585. BACK: '伍圓' = Five Yuan; '一九四五年' = Year 1945; '購造支票以戰時法處罰' = Counterfeiting checks/notes subject to wartime legal penalties.
Intaglio (engraved) printing, evidenced by the fine-line engraving visible throughout the decorative borders and the intricate geometric patterns. The detailed linework and sharp definition of the ornamental elements are characteristic of intaglio production. This printing method was standard for Soviet-issued currency during WWII, typically produced by Soviet State Security Printing facilities or military printing operations.
Serial number HY 344585 observed on front; the HY prefix appears to be the standard series designation for this issue. Known varieties of Pick M32 include different serial number prefixes and potential printing variations. No overprints or significant alterations are visible on this specimen. The 1945 date is consistent across all known examples of this military issue.
