Catalog
5 Won
| Issuer | Central Bank of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea |
|---|---|
| Year | 1978 |
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| Reference(s) | P#19A |
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| Reverse description | The reverse carries a landscape vignette of the Taebaek Mountains with cascading waterfalls and a central view of Mount Kumgang rendered in a detailed intaglio style. A green seal is present within the design. |
| Reverse lettering | 5 조선민주주의인민공화국중앙은행 오원 (Translation: Central Bank of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Five Won) |
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| Comments |
North Korea's 1978 series was designed with a dual-currency system already in operation — separate notes existed for domestic use and for foreign visitors holding convertible currency. This 5 Won falls into the domestic category, intended for ordinary citizens whose access to foreign-exchange shops was legally prohibited. The distinction was enforced not just by policy but by the physical notes themselves, which circulated in parallel but were not interchangeable at the state level.
Pick lists this under 19A, acknowledging a variant distinction within the issue that collectors still debate.