100 Yuan Farmer's Bank of Chung-Chou, back proof, green

The Farmer's Bank of Chung-Chou was a provincial institution operating in Henan, and by 1948 it was issuing notes in a hyperinflationary environment so severe that denominations were racing ahead of purchasing power almost weekly. A 100 Yuan note at this stage of the civil war period was worth very little the moment it left the press.

This is a back proof — printed on one side only, likely on card or ungummed paper, retained for archival or approval purposes rather than released into circulation. Proofs from Chinese provincial banks of this period are considerably scarcer than issued examples, most of which were either spent into oblivion or destroyed during monetary reforms.