100 won 1947
About This Note
This is a North Korean 100 won banknote from 1947, the first year of issue by the newly established North Korea Central Bank. The note is in exceptional condition (EF grade) with vibrant red and black printing, featuring two male figures representing workers on the obverse and a dramatic mountain landscape on the reverse. The intricate engraved borders, fine line work, and traditional Korean ornamental patterns demonstrate high-quality banknote production despite the challenging post-liberation period.
Common. Despite the historical significance of this as an early North Korean issue, the 100 won P-11a from 1947 appears to have had a substantial print run typical of a primary circulating denomination. The visible serial number (LE 9186111) and the availability of examples in the numismatic market indicate this was not a limited issue. Early North Korean banknotes in general are more accessible than notes from the 1960s onward due to less restrictive international trade policies in the immediate post-war period.
This note was issued in 1947, immediately following Korea's liberation from Japanese colonial rule and the establishment of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in September 1948. The imagery reflects the new state's ideology: the two worker figures on the front symbolize labor and the working class, while the mountain landscape on the reverse—likely depicting a prominent Korean peak—represents national identity and natural heritage. The shift from Japanese yen to Korean won currency marked a significant assertion of sovereignty and economic independence.
The obverse features a classical dual-portrait composition within an elaborate circular vignette frame, depicting two male figures symbolizing the working class of the new Korean state—one wearing a wide-brimmed hat (laborer) and one in formal attire (intellectual or administrator). Both figures represent the idealized unity of manual and intellectual workers. The reverse showcases a romanticized landscape vignette of a prominent Korean mountain peak surrounded by forested terrain and valleys, symbolizing national identity and territorial integrity. Both sides employ intricate ornamental borders with traditional Korean floral motifs, geometric patterns, and cartouche designs in red and black, reflecting a blend of modern banknote security design with Korean aesthetic traditions. The note carries multiple denomination markings in both Arabic numerals and Korean Hangul/Hanja script.
FRONT: 朝鮮中央銀行 (Bank of Korea Central); 백원 (Baek-won / 100 won); 100 (Arabic numeral denomination); Serial number LE 9186111. BACK: 朝鮮民主主義人民共和國 (Democratic People's Republic of Korea); 100원 (100 won); 백 (Hundred); 1947 (Year of issue).
Intaglio (engraved) printing, evidenced by the fine line work, intricate detail in the ornamental borders, the dimensional quality of the portrait vignette, and the precise rendering of the landscape. The security features—including the fine-line decorative patterns and detailed engraving—are characteristic of intaglio production. This note was likely produced by a Soviet-influenced printer, as North Korea relied on Soviet technical assistance for early banknote production in the immediate post-war period.
This specimen is cataloged as P-11a, indicating it is the first major variety of the 100 won 1947 issue. The serial number prefix 'LE' and the format of the serial numbering may indicate a specific printing batch. Known varieties of this issue may include different serial number prefixes or subtle design variations between early and later printings within 1947, though detailed variety information for North Korean notes of this era is limited in Western numismatic literature.
