10 yuan 1950

Common. While this is a regional overprint variant with the Kinmen restriction, eBay market data shows consistent sales in the $20-$50 range across multiple condition grades (UNC examples at $21.61 to $49.67), with 2019 catalog values of $18 UNC. The relatively high transaction volume (10+ recent sales records) and modest pricing indicate this is a commonly encountered note in the collector market. Regional wartime and post-war currency is often produced in larger quantities due to military supply needs, and these notes have been available to collectors for decades.

This note represents a distinctive chapter in Taiwan's monetary history, issued by the Bank of Taiwan in 1950 during the early years of the Republic of China's retreat to Taiwan following the Chinese Civil War. The Kinmen-only overprint reflects the historical reality that the offshore islands of Quemoy and Matsu remained under ROC military control and required separate currency management due to their strategic isolation. The depiction of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, founder of the ROC, reinforces the nationalist symbolism of the era, while the Bank of Taiwan building on the reverse emphasizes financial stability during this period of transition.

The obverse features a formal portrait of Dr. Sun Yat-sen (孫中山), founding father of the Republic of China, positioned centrally within an ornate oval frame with elaborate scrollwork. The portrait shows classical Chinese formal dress and is surrounded by intricate decorative borders with geometric and floral patterns in blue, cream, and black inks. Two red seals flank the denomination area below the portrait. The reverse displays a neoclassical multi-story bank building with prominent columns, representing the Bank of Taiwan headquarters, set within similarly ornate borders. Below the building is an outline map of Taiwan within a shield-shaped decorative cartouche. The critical overprint 限金門通用 (For use in Kinmen only) appears on the obverse, making this a regional variant issued exclusively for the Quemoy (Kinmen) garrison area. The denomination appears in both Chinese characters (拾圓) and English (TEN YUAN).

FRONT SIDE: 台灣銀行 (Bank of Taiwan) | 限金門通用 (For use in Kinmen only) | 拾圓 (Ten Yuan) | 中華民國 (Republic of China) | Serial number: H775291Q | BACK SIDE: BANK OF TAIWAN (English) | TEN YUAN (English) | 10 (numeric denomination) | 金圓 (Gold Yuan) | 1950 (year of issue) | Decorative text: TAIWAN BANK (repeated in background microtext pattern)

Intaglio/Copperplate engraving, as evidenced by the fine-line detail work, sharp portrait rendering, and ornate border patterns visible throughout both sides. The presence of repetitive microtext background pattern (TAIWAN BANK) and intricate scrollwork indicates security engraving by a specialized security printer. According to catalog data, the printer was CPF (Chinese Printing Company or similar security printer operating for the Bank of Taiwan in this period).

This specimen represents the Pick R106 Kinmen-overprint variety, specifically identified by the overprinted text 限金門通用 on the obverse. The serial number H775291Q suggests this is from a standard printing block. Known varieties for this Pick number include different serial number prefixes and potentially unmarked versions without the Kinmen overprint restriction, though the Kinmen-specific version is the standard listed in major catalogs. The 1950 date on the reverse (though some sources reference 1963 for reprint editions) combined with the CPF printer attribution confirms identification of this particular variety.