Catalog
10 Chon
| Issuer | Trade Bank of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea |
|---|---|
| Year | 1988 |
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| Shape | Rectangular |
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| Obverse description | Light blue guilloche underprint covers the entire field; at left centre, the State emblem of North Korea in green within a circular vignette. The large numeral '10' and the Korean character '전' appear in the centre within a decorative frame, with the year '1988' at lower right. A serial number in red is at lower left, and the issuing bank name in Korean runs along the bottom panel, with the Korean-script value '십전' at lower right in a contrasting block. |
|---|---|
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| Reverse description | The reverse is dominated by an elaborate guilloche composition in blue and green, with a large central cartouche enclosing the numeral '10' and the Korean character '전' in bold blue intaglio-style print. Repeating micro-text bands reading '10전' border the upper and right edges, and a stylised numeral '10' with a decorative flourish appears at lower right against the intricate lathe-work background. |
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| Comments |
The Trade Bank of Korea (the DPRK's foreign exchange institution) issued this note for use exclusively by foreign visitors — not North Korean citizens, who were barred from holding foreign-exchange certificates. The 1988 series was color-coded by intended user: different tints distinguished capitalist-country visitors from socialist-bloc ones, a partition that reflected Pyongyang's carefully managed exposure to outside currency and commerce.
Survivorship is high relative to circulation, since tourists tended to keep them as souvenirs rather than spend them down.