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Coin and Paper Money Collecting/Unknown Japanese Banknotes

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Expert: Brad Swain - 5/7/2010


Question

First note
Hi Brad. I have recently acquired a collection of banknotes, and there are three Japanese notes that have me completely beaten. If I can use the standard catalog of World Paper Money as a guide, there is nothing close in volume 1. In volume 2 the 1944 issue of the 100 yen note is similar, with the portrait of Shotoku. However there are no numbers on either side, along the bottom is a 7 character mark that looks like a second bank issue mark, though the 5 character mark is the same. Also there are four large orange characters across the centre of the note and four smaller black ones running down the left hand side. The colours are black and orange over a brown ground, the watermark is leaves. The other notes are similar to each other so I will only describe one. It is a similar design to the previously described note, though the colours are odd being orange and green on a brown ground. There is a seven character bank mark to the centre, with four further characters around the central marks. A red seal mark is on the left of the note. The only English character other than the 100 (yen) is a red '9' (the other note has a '10'). The rear of the note is printed in orange and is the same image as before.The paper too is different, feeling slightly thicker. I have just seen I can attach images so I have done so. I hope this all makes sense to you! I have been over and over the catalog with no joy, as well as searching everywhere else. Thank you very much, Marc

Answer
Hi Marc, the first looks like China M29, Japanese 100 Yen also issued for HK in 1945. Collector value may be worth about $1 with heavy wear to around $7 with moderate wear to maybe $12 with light wear.
Paper Money Gallery: http://aes.iupui.edu/rwise/notedir/mappage.html
Brad

Brad Swain

Expertise

I have been a World Coin and Paper Money collector since about 1965. I will be glad to answer any questions you may have on World coins or currency, tokens, unusual or unknown pieces and attempt to give you estimates of value and historical information about them in a polite and prompt manner.

Experience

45 years collecting coins and paper money.

Education/Credentials
BA History, BA Geography - Virginia Tech

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