1 yen
About This Note
This is a 1 Yen banknote issued by the Chōsen Ginkō (朝鮮銀行, Bank of Korea) during the Japanese colonial period in Korea. The note features an elegant design with ornate decorative borders, a portrait of a bearded man in traditional dress on the front, and bilingual inscriptions in Japanese and English. In AU condition, this note shows only minor age-related toning with no tears or significant wear, making it an attractive example of early 20th-century Korean colonial currency.
Common. Chōsen Ginkō 1 Yen notes were issued in substantial quantities during the Japanese colonial period (1910-1945) and remain relatively available to collectors. The AU condition grade and lack of specific variety indicators do not suggest scarcity. Notes from this series regularly appear in international auctions and dealer offerings at modest prices, consistent with common circulation issues of the period.
This note was issued during Japan's colonial administration of Korea (1910-1945), when the Chōsen Ginkō served as the primary banking institution under Japanese imperial control. The bilingual design (Japanese/English/Chinese characters) and the formal portrait reflect the modernization and Western-influenced banking practices introduced during this period. The red seal stamp and ornate scrollwork designs were characteristic of currency security features of the Meiji and Taishō eras.
The front of the note features a formal portrait of a bearded man wearing a traditional tall cylindrical hat, positioned on the right side, rendered in fine black ink engraving. The left side displays a prominent red circular seal stamp overlaying stylized characters, serving both decorative and authenticating purposes. Both sides feature elaborate ornamental borders with geometric corner medallions and intricate scrollwork in black and brown tones on the front and green tones on the back. The back side presents a large central cartouche frame containing '1YEN' in English, with a decorative medallion featuring vertically arranged characters on the left. The cream and white backgrounds provide contrast to the detailed line engraving throughout.
Front side: 朝鮮銀行 (Chōsen Ginkō / Bank of Korea), 壹圓 (One Yen), 此券請向所属銀行行所兌現 (Please exchange this note at the affiliated bank), and Arabic numeral '1'. Back side: 朝鮮銀行 (Chōsen Ginkō / Bank of Korea), 壹圓 (One Yen), and '1YEN' in English capital letters.
Intaglio engraving (line engraving), the primary security printing method for banknotes of this era. The fine line work, ornate corner medallions, and detailed scrollwork patterns are characteristic of high-quality steel plate engraving used by Japanese imperial currency printers. The red seal stamp on the front was likely applied separately, possibly using a specialized stamp or overprint technique.
Without visible serial numbers, signatures, or date markings clearly discernible in the visual analysis, specific variety identification is limited. The red seal stamp on the front and the overall design characteristics suggest this is from the standard issue series. Any varieties would typically be distinguished by serial number prefixes, signature variations, or overprints, none of which are definitively identified in the provided imagery. Further examination of serial numbers and any signature blocks would be necessary to pinpoint the exact variety within the Chōsen Ginkō 1 Yen series.
