Catalog
1 Yen in Silver
| Issuer | Bank of Taiwan |
|---|---|
| Year | 1899 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | Log in to see details |
| Currency | Log in to see details |
| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Size | 135 × 95 mm |
| Shape | Log in to see details |
| Printer | Log in to see details |
| Designer(s) | Log in to see details |
| Engraver(s) | Log in to see details |
| In circulation to | Log in to see details |
| Reference(s) | Log in to see details |
| Obverse description | Green-tinted note with an intricate guilloche border framing a central vignette of two confronting dragons rendered in fine intaglio detail. Above the dragons, a circular cartouche contains a pair of cranes, with the denomination numeral '1' appearing in the upper corners. Chinese characters reading '臺灣銀行' (Bank of Taiwan) and '壹圓銀券' (One Yen Silver Note) are arranged vertically in the central panel. |
|---|---|
| Obverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Reverse description | Printed in warm ochre-tan tones on a plain ground, the reverse centres on an oval cartouche enclosed within elaborate acanthus-scroll and floral guilloche borders. The cartouche contains bilingual text in Chinese and English, with the English legend reading 'THE BANK OF TAIWAN Promises to pay the bearer on demand ONE YEN in Silver.' The denomination 'ONE YEN IN SILVER.' is repeated in large letterpress text along the lower margin. |
| Reverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Signature(s) | Log in to see details |
| Protection type | Log in to see details |
| Protection description | Log in to see details |
| Variants | Log in to see details |
| Comments |
The Bank of Taiwan was established in 1899 specifically as a colonial financial institution following Japan's acquisition of Taiwan under the Treaty of Shimonoseki in 1895. This note belongs to the bank's inaugural series — the very first paper currency issued under the new colonial banking authority, which was granted monopoly powers over Taiwan's currency and also operated extensively in southern China and Southeast Asia as Japan's commercial foothold in the region.
The silver convertibility promise on this note was real but short-lived. Specie redemption became increasingly nominal as the bank's operations expanded well beyond any reasonable silver reserve base.