VINTAGE 1928 Chinese Banknote Display. Bank of China 100 Yuan. Portrait & Round Pagoda. Shanghai Collection. WWII Souvenir

✨ Historic Chinese Currency Presented for Display
Part of my Shanghai Collection Series, this authentic 1928 Bank of China 100 Yuan banknote is presented in a clear magnetic acrylic display holder that allows both sides of the note to be viewed and enjoyed.
Issued during a formative period in modern Chinese history, this note features an engraved portrait on the front and a distinctive round pagoda design on the reverse. Rich brown engraving, intricate security patterns, and detailed border work make it an impressive example of early twentieth-century banknote artistry.
📜 A Family Story From Shanghai
This note comes from a group brought home from Shanghai by my father during his military service. During the decades that followed its issue, China experienced war, occupation, inflation, and currency reforms that eventually rendered many earlier banknotes obsolete.
According to family tradition, my father asked what should be done with the old notes. His commanding officer reportedly replied:
"I don't care if you decorate your Christmas tree with them."
So they did.
Many notes from this group retained traces of tape from those holiday decorations decades later. This example preserves a unique connection to both family history and one of the most turbulent periods of the twentieth century.
🏛 Architectural Artwork & Security Printing
The reverse features a striking round pagoda rendered in detailed engraving. Combined with the elaborate guilloche patterns, watermark panel, and finely engraved portrait, the design demonstrates the extraordinary craftsmanship once devoted to everyday currency.
Unlike modern digital printing, notes of this era relied on highly skilled engravers and specialized security printers, creating miniature works of art intended to resist counterfeiting while projecting national identity.
🧲 Magnetic Acrylic Display Holder
• Clear acrylic construction
• Displays both front and back of the note
• Held together with concealed magnets
• Note is not glued or permanently mounted
• Opens easily for closer examination
• Suitable for bookshelf, office, library, study, or curio cabinet display
📋 Condition
Vintage condition with visible signs of age, handling, folds, creases, and historical storage. The note displays attractively and retains strong visual appeal despite its age. Please review photographs carefully as they form part of the description.
🎯 Perfect For
• Chinese history enthusiasts
• Currency collectors
• WWII history collections
• Library and office décor
• Asian-inspired decorating themes
• Historical artwork collections
• Unique gifts for history lovers
📦 Free U.S. Shipping
The price you see includes shipping anywhere in the United States. Your note will be carefully packaged and shipped in its magnetic acrylic display holder, ready for display upon arrival.
From The Shanghai Collection Series
This note is part of a collection of historic Chinese banknotes brought home from Shanghai by my father following his military service. Each note is presented in a magnetic acrylic display holder that allows both sides to be viewed while preserving the ability to remove the note for closer examination.