10 sen 1945
Market Prices
37 salesAbout This Note
This is an exceptional uncirculated example of the 1945 Allied Military Currency 10 Sen note (Pick P-63), featuring a striking light blue-green obverse with magenta/pink denominations and Japanese characters, paired with an elaborately engraved brown reverse depicting classical imagery. The note exhibits vibrant, well-preserved colors with no visible wear, creasing, or damage, and the fine line engraving throughout demonstrates excellent printing quality. This example represents the scarcer "B" underprint variant and remains highly collectible within the Allied occupation currency series.
Common. While this is an Allied occupation currency note from a limited issuing period, eBay market data shows consistent sales across all grades from 2009 onwards, with UNC examples regularly selling between $4.75 and $10.05 in the 2015-2020 period. PMG-graded examples (64-68) command higher prices ($17.50-$96), but the note itself trades frequently and in volume, indicating substantial surviving population. The "B" underprint variant is noted as a cataloged variety but does not command significant premiums over the base issue.
Issued by the Allied Military Command in 1945 following Japan's surrender, this military scrip was used to facilitate transactions in occupied Japan while controlling monetary circulation. The bilingual English-Japanese inscriptions, including "ISSUED PURSUANT TO MILITARY PROCLAMATION" and "MILITARY CURRENCY," directly reflect the American occupation authority's need to establish provisional monetary instruments. The classical artistic imagery on the reverse represents a continuation of refined Japanese engraving traditions adapted to American military currency standards.
The obverse features a light blue-green field with an intricate wavy line security pattern throughout, framed by ornate black and gray classical scrollwork borders with decorative corner flourishes. A circular medallion on the left contains a single Japanese character in magenta/pink. The denomination appears twice—as 'TEN SEN' in text and as '10 SEN' within a circular design in the lower right, both in magenta/pink. The reverse displays an elaborate classical engraved scene rendered in brown/reddish ink featuring detailed line work and cross-hatching, possibly depicting allegorical or mythological figures, surrounded by repeating circular and spiral border patterns. Both sides incorporate fine line engraving as a security feature.
FRONT: 'MILITARY CURRENCY' (English), 'SERIES 100' (English), '銀行券' (Japanese: Banknote), 'A39704600A' (Serial number), 'TEN SEN' (English), '10 SEN' (English/Numeral denomination). BACK: '軍用手票に告示する' (Japanese: Announced/Issued as military hand note), 'ISSUED PURSUANT TO MILITARY PROCLAMATION' (English).
Intaglio/engraving process with multiple color printing (offset and engraved elements). The security patterns, fine lines, and classical imagery are characteristic of high-security banknote production typical of Allied military currency printing during 1945. The precision of the line work and color separation suggests production by a specialized security printer, likely the Bureau of Engraving and Printing or a contracted security printer serving the Allied military administration.
This is the Pick P-63 variant, identified by the 'B' in underprint. The related P-62 lists the similar note with 'A' in underprint. Serial number A39704600A indicates this note from the 'A' series with 'B' underprint designation. No signatures appear on this military currency issue. The note is undate (ND) as all 1945 Allied Military Currency lacked printed issue dates.
