Catalog
500 Patacas
| Issuer | Banco da China |
|---|---|
| Year | 2020 |
| Type | Standard circulation banknote |
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| Obverse description | The obverse is dominated by a vivid green color scheme with a central vignette of a traditional Chinese lion dance figure in high relief against a stylized architectural underprint. To the left, the denomination "500" appears in large numerals alongside a vertical serial number, while a lotus flower watermark ghost is visible in the underprint. The Bank of China logo and bilingual issuer inscription "中国银行 / BANCO DA CHINA" appear at upper right, with "QUINHENTAS PATACAS" lettered at upper left. |
|---|---|
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| Reverse description | The reverse presents the A-Ma Temple (Templo de A-Má) in Macau as the central vignette, rendered in fine intaglio line work in green tones, with stone lion guardians flanking the entrance steps and decorative foliage in the background. The denomination "500" and "澳門元 PATACAS" appear at upper left, with the Bank of China logo and "中国银行 / BANCO DA CHINA" at upper right. An authorization text block in Portuguese and Chinese, including the date "MACAU, 18 DE MAIO DE 2020" and a facsimile signature, occupies the lower left area. |
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| Comments |
Banco da China is one of three note-issuing banks in Macau — alongside Banco Nacional Ultramarino and Banco da China's competitor issuers — a legacy of the territory's pre-1999 Portuguese administration that the Basic Law preserved after handover. Each bank issues its own notes independently, yet all three denominations circulate at parity. The 500 Patacas sits at the top of the practical circulation range; the 1000 Pataca note exists but rarely moves.
The Printing Works of the People's Bank of China has handled Banco da China's Macau output since the series began, though the notes remain denominated in Patacas rather than Renminbi — a monetary arrangement that remains legally protected until at least 2049.