50 won 1978
About This Note
This is a 1978 North Korean 50 won banknote (Pick P-21e) in uncirculated condition, featuring a striking composition of four figures in military and work attire on the front against a pink background, with a prominent circular emblem depicting an architectural monument on the left side. The reverse displays a serene landscape with snow-capped mountains, a coniferous forest, and a reflective lake, exemplifying the nature-themed imagery common to North Korean currency of this era. The note exhibits sharp printing clarity, fine line engraving throughout, and pristine margins with no visible wear, creases, or stains, making it a desirable example for collectors of mid-20th century Asian banknotes.
Common. The 1978 50 won issue (Pick P-21e) was part of North Korea's standard circulation series during the late 1970s, with substantial print runs typical of a mid-value denomination note in a state-controlled economy. No evidence suggests this was a short-lived issue, limited printing, or subject to recall. The availability of this note in the numismatic market and its uncirculated condition represent normal preservation rather than exceptional rarity. Banknotes from this period and series typically trade at modest collector prices, consistent with common classification.
This 1978 issue coincides with North Korea's post-war consolidation period under Kim Il-sung's leadership, when the regime was emphasizing socialist labor, military strength, and national pride through state imagery. The front's depiction of workers and soldiers in unified poses reflects the regime's propaganda aesthetic, while the pristine landscape on the reverse symbolizes the nation's natural heritage and idealized vision of a unified Korean peninsula. The Central Bank's issuance in this period represents North Korea's effort to establish monetary stability and control following the Korean War's aftermath.
The front features a central allegorical composition of four figures representing socialist ideals: a soldier in military helmet on the left, a woman in light-colored work attire in the center-left, and two additional military personnel on the right, with one figure raising what appears to be a torch symbolizing revolutionary spirit. The left side displays a prominent circular emblem containing a stylized architectural monument (likely representing a state building or monument to the nation) within a radiating design. The denomination '50' appears in a decorative circular cartouche in the top right. The reverse presents an idealized landscape composition with a large coniferous evergreen tree in the left foreground, snow-covered mountains in the background, and a still lake with mirror-like reflections. A decorative oval cartouche with the denomination '50' is centered in the lower portion, flanked by pink floral wreath designs on the left border and ornamental elements on the right. The overall palette emphasizes pink, green, gray, and white tones characteristic of North Korean banknote aesthetics of this period.
Front side: '조선민주주의인민공화국' (Democratic People's Republic of Korea), '중앙은행' (Central Bank), '1978' (year of issue), '50' (denomination), serial numbers '0010079159' and '6710079159'. Back side: '조선민주주의인민공화국중앙은행' (Democratic People's Republic of Korea Central Bank), '오십원' (Fifty won), '50' (denomination numeral).
The note exhibits fine line engraving throughout both sides, evident in the detailed geometric patterns, landscape details, and portrait rendering. The sharp printing clarity, uniform color registration, and absence of printing defects indicate professional intaglio (engraved) printing, the standard method employed by North Korea's state security printers. The fine detail in foliage representation, water reflection patterns, and decorative borders demonstrates high-quality rotogravure or offset-engraving hybrid techniques typical of Cold War-era socialist banknotes.
This example displays serial numbers '0010079159' and '6710079159', with the first series number beginning '00' and the second beginning '67'. Varieties of North Korean 50 won notes from 1978 are primarily distinguished by serial number prefixes and positions. This note represents a standard printing variant without overprints or significant distinguishing characteristics beyond normal serial number variations inherent to banknote production sequences.
