This listing is for the photographed 1872 Imperial Japanese 20 Sen Bank Note. This is a rare older issue of a Japanese paper note from the Japan Constitutional Monarchy. Issued by the Japanese ministry of finance, printed in Germany. Obverse of this note depicts a pair of facing cockerels and dragons along with an extremely ornamented border, green ministry of finance seal in the upper left corner, ensuring its authenticity. The reverse of this note displays a blue symmetrical ornamented design featuring the notes denomination and serial number in Japanese characters, along with 2 more ministry of finance seals in blue and red in the center and upper left corner of the note. An extremely early and rare note, in excellent condition for notes of this issue, as many have been lost to time. Choice Very Fine (VF+) Grade / Condition. Must have piece of history for any collection! P#2 (Pick Number 2).
Japanese issued notes such as this note are known as Meiji Tsūhō, and they are the first Japanese banknote made with western printing technology, making them an excellent piece of valuable history! They were issued in order to reform the Japanese monetary system following the abolition of feudal clans and their monetary issuance. These notes feature elaborate designs in order to make them more difficult to counterfeit, as the practice was very popular with earlier feudal clan issued notes. All arrivals from Germany were purposely left incomplete due to security reasons, the words "Meiji Tsūhō" and the seal of the Minister of Finance were added by the Imperial Printing Bureau first by hand and later by woodblock printing. As more western printing technology was brought to Japan, the Japanese Imperial Government began printing their banknotes domestically.
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RARE 1872 Imperial Japan 20 Sen Bank Note - Constitutional Monarchy - Cockerels and Dragons Issue - 1872 Japanese Twenty Sen Note - P#2