1000 won 1952
About This Note
This 1,000 Won note from 1952 represents an early emission of South Korea's currency under the Bank of Korea, issued during the critical post-war reconstruction period. The note exhibits excellent uncirculated condition with sharp printing throughout, ornate engraved design work, and institutional markings visible on the front. The combination of traditional East Asian architectural imagery on the reverse with formal portraiture on the obverse demonstrates the design aesthetics of Korea's nascent independent monetary system.
Common. The 1952 1,000 Won is a foundational denomination of early Korean currency with substantial print runs supporting post-war economic activity. While early emissions from this period show age, they were produced in quantities sufficient for general circulation, making uncirculated examples available to collectors without scarcity premium.
The 1952 1,000 Won issue emerges from Korea's immediate post-liberation period, following the 1950-1953 Korean War. The Bank of Korea, established in 1950, issued this denomination as part of stabilizing the war-damaged economy. The traditional pavilion and pagoda architecture depicted on the reverse symbolize Korean cultural continuity and national identity during reconstruction, while the formal portraiture reflects the institutional authority of the newly sovereign nation's central bank.
The obverse features a portrait of an elderly dignitary in formal Western-style attire positioned left of center, representing an important Korean national or institutional figure from the founding era. An elaborate circular seal with Korean characters dominates the center, flanked by sophisticated rococo-style decorative borders incorporating shell motifs and floral geometric patterns in tan, brown, and red. The reverse showcases a serene traditional Korean landscape with a prominent multi-tiered pagoda tower and pavilion structure set among trees and mountainous terrain, enclosed within ornate rococo ornamental frames featuring floral medallions and scrollwork. The color scheme shifts to blue-teal and cream tones on the reverse, creating visual distinction between sides.
Front side: '韓國銀行券' (Bank of Korea Note), '千円' (One Thousand - archaic Japanese-influenced numeral), '國' (Country/Nation), plus institutional markings '(32)' and '4285' (likely inventory or cataloging stamps). Back side: 'BANK KOREA' (English institutional name), 'ONE THOUSAND WON' (English denomination), '원' (Won - Korean currency designation in circular elements).
Steel-plate intaglio engraving, characterized by the fine detail line work, intricate background patterns, and crisp denominational numerals visible throughout both sides. The complex border work, architectural details, and portrait rendering are consistent with high-security banknote engraving typical of 1950s currency production by established security printers contracted to the Bank of Korea.
This specimen exhibits red institutional stamps and annotations '(32)' and '4285' on the obverse, suggesting it may have been part of a bank examination sample, reference collection, or archival marking system rather than standard circulation stock. The Pick 10a designation indicates this is a primary cataloged variety. The presence of institutional markings, combined with the UNC grade, indicates this note has been preserved in a formal institutional or curatorial context rather than commercial circulation.
