10 yuan 1950

Common. Although catalog values list UNC notes at $25 (2019), the eBay sold price of $152.50 for AUNC represents an outlier likely driven by bidding competition rather than rarity. This was a regular issue from the Bank of Taiwan with substantial circulation in Taiwan and among overseas collectors. Print runs for early ROC banknotes were generally large, and this denomination and issuer do not appear in rarity guides as scarce or rare. The collector annotation 'Matsu' suggests regional significance but does not indicate scarcity.

Issued in 1950 by the Bank of Taiwan during the early period of the Republic of China's consolidation on Taiwan following the 1949 retreat from mainland China, this note commemorates Dr. Sun Yat-sen, the founding father of the ROC, whose portrait serves as a symbol of political legitimacy. The reverse depicts the Bank of Taiwan's headquarters building, representing the institution's role in establishing fiscal stability for the newly formed island government during a period of significant political and economic transition.

The obverse features a formal bust portrait of Dr. Sun Yat-sen (1866-1925), founder of the Republic of China, positioned at the center within an ornate oval frame surrounded by elaborate decorative borders incorporating traditional Chinese artistic patterns. Two red security seals appear below the portrait. The reverse showcases the neoclassical Bank of Taiwan headquarters building with architectural columns and detailing, depicted in an engraved landscape scene with human figures in the foreground and landscaping elements. A large numeral '10' in a decorative cartouche occupies the lower center, with what appears to be a stylized geographical element integrated into the frame, possibly representing Matsu or Taiwan's territory.

Front side: Serial number (Z698922Y); 台灣銀行 (Bank of Taiwan); 拾圓 (Ten Yuan); 中華民國九十三國民政府通用 (Republic of China Currency for General Use); 拾 (Ten); 地區祖國通用 (Regional homeland general use). Back side: 馬祖 (Matsu); BANK OF TAIW[AN] (Bank of Taiwan in English); TEN YUAN (Ten Yuan in English); 10 (Arabic numeral denomination); 祖馬 (Matsu, reversed orientation).

Intaglio (steel engraving) on banknote paper, executed by CPF (likely a security printing firm), as indicated in catalog data. The visual analysis confirms the use of fine line work, intricate cross-hatching throughout backgrounds, and complex ornamental patterns characteristic of high-security intaglio printing. Multiple color layers (blue, cream, red, and black) were applied using traditional multi-plate engraving techniques.

Serial number Z698922Y indicates this specimen from the standard printing series. The 'Matsu' notation in collector notes may reference either the overprint location or regional significance of this particular note, though Matsu (Mazu Islands) appears in the reverse inscription. No major varieties are documented for Pick R117, though variations in serial number prefixes and red seal placements may exist across the print run. This appears to be a standard variety of the 1950 regular issue without overprints or special designations.