10 won 1978
About This Note
This is an uncirculated 1978 North Korean 10 Won banknote (Pick P-20c) displaying exceptional preservation with crisp, clean surfaces showing no wear or damage. The note features distinctive propaganda imagery: a dynamic figure in a leaping pose on the obverse and an industrial harbor complex with smokestacks on the reverse, both rendered in the characteristic brown and pink color scheme of North Korean currency from this era. The pristine condition and intricate engraving work make this an excellent example of late 1970s DPRK numismatic design.
Common. The 1978 10 Won (P-20c) was part of a standard circulating series issued by the North Korean Central Bank with substantial print runs to support the domestic economy. No evidence of short print runs, recall orders, or rarity documentation exists for this denomination and year. The UNC condition is desirable but does not significantly elevate rarity, as these notes were widely produced and many examples survive in fine condition due to limited circulation outside the domestic economy.
Issued during the consolidation period of Kim Il-sung's regime in 1978, this banknote exemplifies North Korean socialist aesthetic through its imagery of industrial development and human dynamism. The reverse's depiction of a modern industrial complex with harbor facilities reflects the DPRK's propaganda emphasis on economic progress and self-reliance (juche), while the front's dynamic human figure symbolizes the revolutionary spirit and collective labor ideology central to North Korean state messaging.
The obverse features a centrally positioned male figure in a dynamic leaping or forward-motion pose, rendered in brown tones against a pale pink background—a common motif in North Korean currency symbolizing revolutionary vigor and collective action. The national emblem of the DPRK (featuring a sphere with radiating elements and laurel wreaths) is positioned in the upper left, with denomination numerals '10' framed in decorative circular cartouches in the upper right and lower left. The reverse depicts an industrial waterfront landscape showcasing factory buildings with multiple tall smokestacks along a harbor, embodying the regime's promotion of industrial modernization and economic development. Both sides feature intricate geometric and linear background patterns characteristic of mid-20th century socialist currency design.
Front: '조선민주주의인민공화국중앙은행' (Central Bank of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea); '10' (Denomination); '1978' (Year of Issue); '시오1' (Currency designation - Won); Serial Number: '0 II 526275' (red, dual locations). Back: '조선민주주의인민공화국중앙은행' (Central Bank of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea); '10' (Denomination); '시오1' (Currency designation); Additional Korean text in red emblem area (partially legible as official seal/authority marking).
Intaglio (engraved) printing, evidenced by the fine line work, dimensional quality visible in the portrait rendering, and the complex geometric background patterns. The security features include intricate engraving throughout the note and the sophisticated multi-color registration visible in the layered brown, pink, red, and green tones. This production method was standard for North Korean Central Bank currency during the 1970s-1980s period.
Serial number observed: '0 II 526275' in red. The Roman numeral 'II' in the serial designation may indicate a specific printing series or batch. Detailed variety attribution would require comparison with catalog references for different serial prefixes and printing batches of the 1978 10 Won issue. No overprints or date variations are apparent on this example.
