1 yuan 1961

Common. The eBay price history provided shows consistent sales ranging from $1.55 to $46 USD depending on condition and grading, with PMG 65-graded examples selling in the $10–$25 range across multiple transactions from 2018–2020. No evidence of limited print run, recall, or scarcity. The 2019 catalog value of $5 UNC further confirms this as a standard, readily available issue.

Issued by the Bank of Taiwan in 1961 (Republic of China Year 50), this note commemorates the early post-war period of Taiwan's monetary stabilization. The portrait of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, founder of the Republic of China, paired with the iconic Chinshui cliff landscape on the obverse and the Presidential Palace in Taipei on the reverse, reflects Taiwan's political identity and natural heritage during this formative decade of development.

The obverse features a formal left-profile portrait of Dr. Sun Yat-sen (founder of the Republic of China) rendered in fine engraved line work, positioned at left. The right side depicts the Chinshui cliff (Qingshui Cliffs) of Hualian—a dramatic coastal landscape showing steep rocky formations rising from water with a small vessel visible offshore, rendered as a detailed engraved vignette. Red rectangular stamps bearing Chinese characters appear centrally, with a decorative rosette medallion above. The reverse shows an institutional building identified as the Presidential Palace in Taipei, a multi-story structure with a prominent central tower set within manicured gardens, rendered entirely in green/teal engraved line work. Ornamental corner pieces frame both sides; the reverse corners feature numeral '1' indicators.

Front side: '臺灣銀行' (Bank of Taiwan), '壹圓' (One Yuan), '中華民國' (Republic of China), and serial number 'S461519S' (printed in red on left and right sides). Back side: Numeral '1' appearing in all four corner ornamental medallions, indicating denomination.

Steel engraving throughout, printed by PFBT (likely Perkins, Bacon & Phorson or successor entity). The fine line engraving visible in decorative elements, portraiture, and architectural details is consistent with the period's security printing standard. Single-pass engraved production with separate color applications (black/dark blue-green on front, green on back) and red serial number printing.

Pick catalog number P-1971a indicates this is the primary variety of the 1961 1 Yuan note. The observed serial number 'S461519S' with 'S' prefix is consistent with Bank of Taiwan production of this period. No overprints, signature variations, or security features suggesting rare subtypes are evident from the visual analysis. The note represents the standard production issue for this denomination and year.