50 coppers
Market Prices
About This Note
This 1923 Provincial Bank of Honan 50 Coppers note (Pick S1683) is presented in AU condition, displaying excellent preservation with minimal wear typical of its age. The note features a striking reddish-brown color scheme with intricate ornamental borders and three circular medallions depicting a pagoda, Chinese characters, and a fortified building structure. The reverse presents a more uniformly decorated design with a repeating geometric pattern, centered denomination numerals, and bilingual inscriptions in both Chinese and English, making it an interesting example of early 20th-century Chinese provincial currency.
Common. The eBay price tracking data shows this note in AU condition averaging around $342, with multiple sales across various condition grades (F: $85-$160, VF: $32-$145, AU: $342, UNC: $179.50). The wide range of available examples and consistent market supply indicate this was a regular issue with a substantial print run. Henan Provincial Bank notes from this period are collectible but not scarce.
Issued during the warlord era of the Republic of China, this note represents the Henan Provincial Bank's monetary authority during a period of significant political fragmentation (1923). The depicted pagoda and fortified gatehouse likely represent important historical or cultural landmarks within Henan Province, reflecting regional pride and legitimacy during an era when provincial banks competed to establish credibility. The bilingual English-Chinese inscriptions demonstrate the influence of Western commerce and the cosmopolitan aspirations of Chinese financial institutions in the 1920s.
The obverse features a classical Chinese provincial banknote design with three circular medallions arranged horizontally: the left medallion contains a multi-tiered pagoda (likely representing a significant temple or cultural monument in Henan), the center medallion displays Chinese characters denoting the issuer, and the right medallion depicts a fortified gatehouse or defensive structure, possibly representing regional military or administrative authority. The design employs ornate corner embellishments with geometric and floral scroll motifs throughout. The reverse abandons figurative imagery in favor of a repeating diamond or cross-hatch pattern, with the denomination '50' prominently displayed in a decorative cartouche at the center. Red seal stamps (chops) appear on the obverse, typical of Chinese official documents and currency of this era.
Front side: '河南省银行' (Henan Provincial Bank), '皮铜十兆' (Fifty Copper Coins), Serial number 'B33331'. Back side: '河南省银行' (Henan Provincial Bank), '50' (denomination numeral), 'FIFTY COPPER COINS' (English denomination). All inscriptions are bilingual or numeric, reflecting the dual Chinese-Western commercial environment of the period.
Intaglio engraving (line engraving), as evidenced by the fine-line detail work, intricate border patterns, and the crisp, sharp quality of the decorative elements and text visible in both the visual analysis and the condition of surviving examples. The security printer for this series is not definitively identified in standard references, but the high quality of engraving suggests a professional security printing facility, possibly operated by the Henan Provincial Bank itself or a contracted international security printer.
This note corresponds to Seaby-Mehl catalog reference H62-15 (S/M #H62-15). The serial number B33331 visible on the obverse indicates a mid-range serial numbering sequence; serial number varieties (prefix letters and ranges) may exist for this issue, but no specific documented varieties beyond standard serial numbering variations have been identified for Pick S1683. The date 1923 is confirmed as the issue date. No overprints or secondary varieties are apparent in the visual analysis of this example.
