30 dong 1981
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This is an uncirculated example of the Vietnam 30 Dong from 1981 (Pick P-87a), featuring a striking purple/mauve color scheme with exceptional clarity and detail throughout. The obverse displays a portrait of Ho Chi Minh rendered in fine black engraving, while the reverse depicts an industrial harbor scene with freighters and port infrastructure—representing Vietnam's post-war economic development. The note exhibits no visible wear, creasing, or damage, with sharp registration and pristine condition consistent with the UNC grade assigned.
Common. The 30 Dong denomination from 1981 remains readily available in the collector market. eBay transaction data from the provided catalogs shows consistent sales of UNC examples averaging $28-$35, with even PMG-graded specimens (PMG 66-68) selling in the $50-$115 range historically. The catalog reference value of $10 for UNC condition (2019) further confirms this is a widely circulated collector item with no significant scarcity premium. Print run was substantial, and the note remains abundant in both circulated and uncirculated states.
Issued during the early period of unified Vietnam's State Bank operations following the 1975 reunification, this 1981 note reflects the Socialist Republic's emphasis on industrial and maritime development as core pillars of national reconstruction. The prominent imagery of cargo ships, loading cranes, and industrial facilities on the reverse illustrates the government's focus on building economic capacity and modernizing Vietnam's ports and manufacturing sectors during this critical post-war consolidation period.
The obverse features Ho Chi Minh, the founding president of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, depicted as a bearded portrait on the right side rendered in classical intaglio engraving style. The reverse showcases a harbor industrial complex with multiple freighters at dock, loading cranes, and factory buildings including a prominent cooling tower, symbolizing economic reconstruction and Vietnam's maritime commerce. Both sides are framed by ornate guilloche borders with corner medallions bearing the denomination. The national emblem—a star within a crescent moon device—appears in an elaborate circular seal on the obverse, centered left of the portrait. The color palette of purple, mauve, and brown tones provides aesthetic distinction from both earlier and later Vietnamese note issues.
Front: CỘNG HÒA XÃ HỘI CHỦ NGHĨA VIỆT NAM (Socialist Republic of Vietnam); BA MUOI DONG (Thirty Dong); 1981 (Year of issue); 30 (Denomination); Serial number EZ 0310525. Back: NGÂN HÀNG NHÀ NƯỚC VIỆT NAM (State Bank of Vietnam); BA MUOI DONG (Thirty Dong); 30 (Denomination).
Intaglio engraving (gravure) throughout, with fine line work and intricate guilloche security patterns. The detailed scenic composition and portrait rendering are characteristic of high-security currency production standards of the era. The State Bank of Vietnam employed sophisticated European and Soviet printing technology for this series; this note was likely produced by a state security printer, possibly with technical assistance or partnerships common during this period of Vietnamese economic development.
This example is catalogued as Pick P-87a, distinguished by its watermark feature (Flower watermark). PMG records indicate a variant P-87s1 also exists for this denomination. The observed serial number format (letter-letter followed by 7 digits: EZ 0310525) is consistent with the standard 1981 emission. No overprints, signature variations, or date anomalies are visible in this specimen. The Flower watermark variety (P-87a) appears to be the standard circulation variety for this issue.