China-500 Customs Gold Unit-Note-Illustrated

Illustrated below is the obverse and reverse of the Custom Gold Unit note. The notes were not originally an issue of banknotes but were used to pay customs duties at Chinese ports. This 500 CGU note was issued in 1947 during a period of inflation. Values went very high as inflation progressed starting at 500 and progressing to 250,000. Originally issued in 1930 in values of 0.10, 0.20,1, 5,10, 20,50,100, and printed by the American Bank Note Company Custom Gold Units were issued as currency in 1942 and thereafter printed by a variety of British, American and Chinese note printers. This example was printed by the Security Banknote Company. The obverse bears a portrait of Sun Yat Sen the Chinese Nationalist leader and the reverse an illustration of the Shanghai Customs House.