50 won 1978
About This Note
This is an uncirculated 1978 North Korean 50 won note (Pick P-21d) featuring revolutionary imagery on the obverse with three heroic worker figures and the national emblem, paired with a serene landscape reverse depicting mountains, forest, and water. The note exhibits pristine condition with sharp engraving, vibrant color printing in red, green, and earth tones, and no signs of wear or circulation—a desirable example of Cold War-era North Korean currency.
Common. The 50 won denomination from 1978 was part of regular circulation currency for North Korea and would have been printed in substantial quantities. No historical evidence suggests limited print runs, recall situations, or specific scarcity for this Pick number. While North Korean currency is less frequently encountered in Western collections compared to other nations, the 1978 series remains accessible to collectors.
Issued during the height of North Korea's Juche ideology under Kim Il-sung, this 1978 note reflects the regime's emphasis on revolutionary labor and self-reliance through its depiction of workers bearing torches and tools. The reverse landscape featuring snow-capped mountains and pristine nature represents the Korean peninsula's natural heritage, while the repeated national emblem reinforces state authority and socialist ideology during a period of significant economic isolation.
The obverse features three revolutionary figures—two males and one female—positioned centrally as heroic workers, with the central figure prominently holding a torch symbolizing enlightenment and socialist progress. To the left is the circular national emblem of North Korea containing an architectural monument. The red denomination '50' appears in the upper center with numeral repetition in the lower right. The reverse depicts a nationalist landscape composition with a large coniferous evergreen tree in the foreground, a calm body of water in the middle distance, snow-capped mountains in the background, and a forested treeline. Ornamental floral borders frame both sides, with a red decorative emblem centered at the base of the reverse containing the denomination. Fine line engraving and intricate geometric patterns provide security detailing throughout.
Front side: '조선민주주의인민공화국중앙은행' (Central Bank of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea), '오십원' (50 won), '1978' (year of issue), '50' (denomination numeral), and serial number '0E 067729'. Back side: '조선민주주의인민공화국중앙은행' (Central Bank of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea), '오십원' (50 won), and '50' (denomination numeral).
Intaglio (engraved) printing, characteristic of North Korean currency production of this era. The fine line work, detailed rendering of the landscape elements, and sharp security patterns visible throughout indicate professional security printing. North Korean notes from this period were typically produced domestically by the state printing authority, with technical assistance from allied nations during the Cold War.
Serial number prefix '0E' observed on this example (0E 067729). North Korean notes of this period typically feature single or double letter prefixes followed by sequential numerals. The specific prefix variants may indicate different printing runs or batches, though comprehensive cataloging of all North Korean serial prefix varieties remains incomplete in standard references. The UNC condition and specific serial number make this a documented example of the standard 1978 50 won issue.
