500 kip 1974

Common. Despite the note's historical interest as currency from the final year of the Kingdom of Laos, secondary market data indicates robust circulation and availability. eBay price tracking shows consistent sales across multiple condition grades from 2009-2026, with ungraded UNC examples selling for $0.99-$4.85 and PMG-graded examples (65-68) ranging $10-$73, indicating healthy supply relative to collector demand. The relatively modest premiums for professionally graded examples and the high frequency of sales transactions suggest this note was printed in substantial quantities and survives in quantity today, classifying it as common despite its numismatic and historical significance.

Issued by the Banque Nationale du Laos in 1974, this note represents the final period of the Kingdom of Laos before the 1975 Communist takeover and the transition to the Lao People's Democratic Republic. King Savang Vatthana's portrait anchors the design, reflecting the monarchy's central role in the nation's identity, while the Ong Teu temple and Nam Ngum dam commemorate Laotian cultural and infrastructural achievements. The bilingual French and Lao inscriptions reflect the legacy of French colonial influence that continued to shape Laotian institutions during this period.

The obverse presents King Savang Vatthana, the last reigning monarch of Laos (1954-1975), depicted in profile facing left wearing formal military dress with ornately embroidered collar and jacket, positioned at the left side of the note. At center-right stands the Ong Teu Temple (also known as Wat Ong Teu Mahavihan) in Vientiane, the nation's holiest Buddhist shrine, rendered with its characteristic multi-tiered curved roofs in red tile and white walls with green accents, reflecting traditional Laotian Buddhist architecture. Ornamental decorative frames featuring elaborate floral medallions and lotus or palmette motifs border the left and right edges, demonstrating the neoclassical engraving aesthetic typical of 1970s Asian currency design. The reverse depicts the Nam Ngum Hydroelectric Dam, representing the nation's modern infrastructure and development aspirations, with water flowing over spillways, landscaped grounds, and mountainous background. Mythical creature or dragon motifs appear in decorative side panels on the reverse, connecting to traditional Laotian artistic symbolism.

FRONT SIDE: 'ແຊກປະເທດລາວ' (Lao) / 'ສັກປະເທດລາວ' (Lao) = 'Banque Nationale du Laos' / 'National Bank of Laos'; 'ນ້ອຍ' (Lao) = 'Five Hundred Kip'; Denomination numerals '500' appear in multiple locations; Serial number visible as '294426'. BACK SIDE: 'BANQUE NATIONALE DU LAOS' (French) = 'National Bank of Laos'; 'CINQ CENTS KIP' (French) = 'Five Hundred Kip'; 'LE CONTREFACTEUR SERA PUNI CONFORMÉMENT À LA LOI' (French) = 'Counterfeiters will be punished according to law'; Denomination numerals '500' in upper corners.

Intaglio engraving (line engraving and guilloche process), as evidenced by the fine detailed line work, intricate geometric patterns, and raised surface characteristics visible throughout both obverse and reverse. The multicolor printing with pink/rose as the dominant base color, overlaid with red, white, blue, and green inks, suggests traditional multi-pass intaglio color printing. The security features including watermark areas and fine guilloche borders were integrated during the engraving process. Note printed by Banque de l'Indochine or similar security printer contracted by Banque Nationale du Laos during this period.

Pick P-17a is the catalogued variant for this denomination. Serial number 294426 observed on this specimen indicates standard issue production. No date appears on the note (ND notation), consistent with Laotian currency practice of this period. Variations in signature blocks and minor printing details exist across the production run, but this represents the standard P-17a variety as recognized by major catalogs. Watermark described as tricephalic elephant arms (three elephant heads forming an emblematic design), a distinctive security feature of Laotian notes from this era.