China: Bank of Communications 10 Yuan Banknote Transportation and Travel Series (1914)

This podcast presents a comprehensive numismatic and historical report on the 1914 Bank of Communications 10 Yuan banknote (Pick-118q, Shanghai branch, Red variety). Issued under the Republic of China's National Coinage Law of 1914, the note reflects a period of economic modernization and currency standardization driven by the influential Communications Clique under the Beiyang Government.

Printed by the American Bank Note Company (ABNC), the note features high-security intaglio engraving, complex geometric lathe work (guilloche), and embedded multicolored security planchettes. Its obverse depicts the Second Imperial Chinese Maritime Customs House in Shanghai alongside a streetcar, while the reverse displays a stock ABNC vignette of a bustling port with a steamship and train. Although engraved with the date October 1, 1914,

The presence of signatures by Tang Shoumin and Wang Zisong (J.S. Wong) indicates it was issued during the 1930s. The 10 Yuan series comprises four distinct color varieties introduced to counteract regional fraud, with the Red variety being the most prevalent.