20 chon 1947
About This Note
This is a North Korean 20 chon banknote from 1947, the inaugural issue of the North Korea Central Bank. The note is in uncirculated condition with crisp, clear printing throughout and no signs of wear, creases, or damage. The design features distinctive Celtic-style knotwork borders and ornate scalloped cartouches in green and olive tones, making it a notable example of early North Korean currency design during the immediate post-liberation period.
Common. This is a foundational issue of North Korean currency from 1947, part of the initial Central Bank series. Early North Korean notes, while historically significant, were produced in sufficient quantities for circulation. The note's common status in the current market is reinforced by the fact that uncirculated examples remain available to collectors, and there is no historical evidence of a limited print run or subsequent recall that would elevate its rarity.
Issued in 1947, shortly after Korea's liberation from Japanese colonial rule and the establishment of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, this banknote represents the first monetary currency issued by North Korea's Central Bank. The ornate design with its decorative borders and cartouches reflects the graphic design sensibilities of the period, while the inscriptions in Korean Hanja characters emphasize the new nation's independent identity following decades of Japanese occupation.
The 20 chon note features a non-portrait design typical of early North Korean currency. The front displays a symmetrical, ornate composition with a central oval cartouche containing Korean text identifying the issuer, flanked by denomination numerals '20' in the upper corners. The back presents a similar symmetrical design with large '20' numerals on either side of a central compass or arrow emblem within scalloped frames. The entire design employs elaborate Celtic-style knotwork patterns and fine decorative borders in green and olive inks, reflecting a classical engraving aesthetic without historical figures or national monuments as focal points.
Front side: '北朝鮮中央銀行券' (Bank of North Korea Note), '貳拾錢' (Twenty Chon), and '1947' (year of issue). Back side: '大朝鮮民國' (Great Korean People's Republic), '20' (denomination), and '朝' (Korea). All denominations and identifiers use a combination of Korean Hanja characters and Arabic numerals.
Intaglio engraving (line engraving), as evidenced by the fine line work, intricate border patterns, and the crisp, well-defined details visible throughout the note. The consistent quality of the engraved lines and the precision of the decorative elements are characteristic of traditional banknote production methods used during this period.
Pick P-6b designation indicates this is variety 'b' of the 20 chon 1947 issue. Varieties in early North Korean notes may relate to differences in printing runs, minor design adjustments, or security features. Without visible serial numbers or other distinguishing marks clearly visible in the analysis, the specific characteristics differentiating this P-6b variety from other versions (such as P-6a) cannot be definitively identified from the images alone, but the catalog assignment confirms this as the 'b' variety of the denomination.
