15 chon 1947
About This Note
This is a North Korean 15 chon banknote from 1947, issued by the North Korea Central Bank during the early post-liberation period. The note displays pristine uncirculated condition with no visible wear, featuring an elegant design characterized by ornate decorative borders with wave and scroll motifs, fine mesh security patterns, and a warm brown/tan color palette typical of early Korean currency printing. The denomination and issuer information are prominently displayed in Chinese characters, reflecting the script conventions of the period.
Common. The 15 chon denomination from 1947 is a standard issue from the early North Korean Central Bank period. No evidence of limited print runs, early recalls, or exceptional scarcity exists for this Pick number in the numismatic literature. Uncirculated examples are desirable for type collectors but do not command premium prices beyond typical collector interest in early North Korean currency.
This note was issued in 1947, just two years after Korea's liberation from Japanese colonial rule and during the period of Soviet military occupation in the north. The use of Chinese characters for inscriptions ('北朝鮮中央銀行券' - North Korea Central Bank Note) reflects the cultural and administrative practices of the immediate post-war period before the Democratic People's Republic of Korea adopted Hangul more exclusively in later currency designs. The conservative, ornate design aesthetic mirrors classical East Asian currency traditions and represents an important transitional phase in North Korean monetary history.
The banknote features a highly ornamental design with no portraits, consistent with early communist-era currency practices that avoided individual personality cults. The front side showcases an elaborate decorative border composed of continuous wave patterns and scrollwork, with a central cartouche prominently displaying the denomination in Chinese characters. The back side employs a scalloped border frame design with a central circular medallion containing a Chinese character, flanked by Arabic numeral denominations (15) on both left and right sides. Floral and scroll elements appear in the lower sections, while fine mesh and crosshatch patterns serve as security features throughout both sides.
Front side: '北朝鮮中央銀行券' (North Korea Central Bank Note); '拾五錢' (15 chon); '1947' (year of issue). Back side: '15' (denomination in Arabic numerals, left and right); '元' (Won/Yuan, the currency unit designation).
Intaglio (engraved) printing, evidenced by the fine line mesh patterns, guilloche ornamentation, and the precise, layered security features visible in both sides. The complexity of the decorative border designs and the clarity of the fine security line work are characteristic of high-quality intaglio production. This note was likely produced by a security printer with East Asian experience, though specific printer attribution for Pick P-5b requires consultation with specialized North Korean currency references.
Pick catalog number P-5b indicates this is a known variety designation. Without access to serial number details or signature variations in the visual analysis, specific variety identification within the P-5b classification cannot be definitively stated. Collectors should cross-reference serial number prefixes and any signature variants against detailed Pick catalog references for North Korean currency to identify the precise sub-variety.
