5000 Yuan Central Bank of China

The 5000 Yuan denomination was introduced in 1945 as hyperinflation was already dismantling the purchasing power of the Nationalist government's currency. The fabi had been under severe strain since the wartime decision to finance military expenditure through printing rather than taxation or borrowing — a policy that accelerated dramatically after 1943. By 1945, denominations that would have been unthinkable five years earlier were routine.

The Central Bank of China Printing Works produced this domestically, a necessity since wartime conditions had severed reliable access to foreign security printers like American Bank Note Company, which had handled earlier high-quality issues. Domestic production meant reduced security features and less consistent print quality across the run.

Within three years of this note's issue date, the fabi was replaced entirely by the Gold Yuan, itself worthless before the year was out.