20 kip 1979

Common. This is a regular-issue banknote from a major denomination that remained in circulation for several years. eBay market data shows UNC examples selling for under $2 during the 2010s-2014 period, indicating abundant supply in the collector market. While graded examples (PMG 66-68) command slightly higher prices ($15-45), the consistent availability of UNC raw notes at nominal prices ($0.80-$1.43) confirms this is not a scarce issue. Print runs for the 1979 series were substantial, and the note has not been recalled or withdrawn from circulation under special circumstances.

Issued in 1979, just four years after the establishment of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, this banknote reflects the newly communist state's emphasis on revolutionary military strength and socialist industrial development. The prominent tank and military personnel depicted on the obverse commemorate the victory of the Pathet Lao, while the textile factory on the reverse symbolizes the regime's commitment to building a modern socialist economy through industrialization. The imagery reinforces the ideological priorities of the early Lao PDR during a period of significant political and economic transformation.

The obverse depicts a patriotic revolutionary scene centered on a Soviet-style military tank accompanied by armed soldiers and what appears to be riverside or waterfront infrastructure, symbolizing Pathet Lao military victory and state control. The reverse features a textile manufacturing facility with workers operating industrial machinery, representing socialist industrial progress and economic development. Both sides are framed by ornate decorative borders incorporating paisley, braided, and geometric patterns in the traditional Lao artistic style. The denomination '20' appears in diamond-shaped and ornate cartouches on both sides, with the note printed in rose-mauve and dark reddish-brown on a cream underprint. The fine line engraving throughout demonstrates sophisticated banknote production standards.

FRONT: 'ສາທາລະນະລັດປະຊາທິປະໄຕປະຊາຊົນລາວ' = 'Lao People's Democratic Republic'; '20' = Denomination (20 Kip); 'AA 1620069' = Serial number. BACK: '20' = Denomination (20 Kip); Additional Lao inscriptions present including institutional or governmental text affirming the Bank of the Lao People's Democratic Republic as issuer.

Intaglio (engraved line) printing, evidenced by the crisp, fine-line detail visible throughout the note's design elements, decorative borders, and denomination cartouches. The consistent, sharp rendering of the military and industrial vignettes, along with the precise geometric and paisley border patterns, is characteristic of professional security printing using engraved copper plates. This note was produced by the Bank of the Lao People's Democratic Republic's designated security printer, likely utilizing Soviet or Eastern Bloc printing technology available during this post-revolutionary period.

This note is identified as Pick catalog number P-28a, one of three documented variants for the base Pick 28 number (P-28a, P-28a*, and P-28s according to PMG population reports). The 'a' designation typically indicates the standard version without special markings or overprints. The observed serial number format (AA 1620069) with Latin letter prefix followed by numerals is consistent with the standard P-28a variety. The specimen asterisk (*) and specimen (s) variants exist but are distinctly different issues; this example exhibits no evidence of specimen marking or overprint, confirming its identification as the regular P-28a issue.