500 custom gold units 1947
Market Prices
25 salesAbout This Note
This is a Central Bank of China 500 Customs Gold Units note from 1947 (Pick P-334), presented in Very Fine condition. The note features a striking multicolored design with a formal portrait of Sun Yat-sen in an ornate oval frame on the obverse, complemented by an impressive classical bank building with clock tower on the reverse. The crisp printing, intricate security features including fine-line engraving and geometric cross-hatching, and minimal wear consistent with its age make this a well-preserved example of late-period Chinese currency from the Republic era.
Common. The eBay market data demonstrates consistent pricing for VF examples in the $4-$20 range across multiple sales spanning 2018-2025, indicating this is a readily available note in the collector market. The catalog 2016 valuation of $18 for VF condition aligns with actual market performance. This was a regular issue from the Central Bank during the final years before the 1949 transition, with sufficient print runs to ensure availability today.
Issued during the final years of the Republic of China before the Communist takeover, this 1947 note represents a transitional period when the Central Bank was transitioning currency denominations to gold-backed units as inflation pressured the traditional yuan system. The prominence of both Chinese and English inscriptions reflects the international commercial context of the era. The depicted bank building symbolizes the institutional stability the Central Bank sought to project during a period of significant economic and political upheaval.
The obverse features a formal portrait of Sun Yat-sen (founder of the Republic of China), depicted in three-quarter view within an elaborate circular medallion frame, rendered with fine engraving detail. The background employs a cream/beige base with multicolored decorative elements in blue, green, pink, and orange, featuring intricate geometric rosette patterns and ornamental corner medallions. The reverse displays a prominent civic building—the Central Bank of China headquarters—rendered in classical architectural style with a distinctive clock tower, depicted in brown and maroon tones against a cream background. Both sides employ fine-line security printing with detailed cross-hatching patterns throughout. Red rectangular seals with Chinese characters flank the portrait on the obverse, while denomination numerals appear in all four corners on the reverse.
FRONT: 中央銀行 (Central Bank) | 五百圓 (Five Hundred Yuan) | 金關 (Gold Customs/Customs Gold) | 中華民國三十六年 (Year 36 of the Republic of China, corresponding to 1947) | Serial number: A 092474 | BACK: THE CENTRAL BANK OF CHINA | FIVE HUNDRED CUSTOMS GOLD UNITS | 500 (appears in all four corners) | King Hsiang, GENERAL MANAGER | ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER (signature line) | WATERLOW & SONS LIMITED LONDON (printer attribution) | 13-42 (reference/date code)
Intaglio engraving (line engraving), as evidenced by the fine detail visible in the portrait, the intricate cross-hatching patterns, and the elaborate border work. The note was printed by Waterlow & Sons Limited of London, a renowned British security printer of the era, as credited on the reverse. The security features include fine geometric patterns and detailed engraving work characteristic of high-security currency production of the 1940s.
The specific variety is identifiable by the serial number prefix 'A' and the reference code '13-42' on the reverse. The signature of 'King Hsiang' as General Manager is also a variety marker, as different officials held this position during the 1947 issuance. The note is from the standard 1947 regular issue (not a commemorative or special variant) with typical characteristics of Central Bank currency from this period.
