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Paper Money

The use of money in China could be traced back to at least four thousand years ago. China was also the first country to use paper money, or credit currency in the world. Ancient paper money can only be described in general terms for lack of material objects. About the Pai-Lu P'i-pi (white deer-skin money) of Han Dynasty and the Fei-Chien (flying money) of Tang Dynasty, I personally have never seen the actual objects. However, the official issuing of paper money in Sung Dynasty is famous in the field of numismatic. [Chiao-Tzu (1008AD) and Chien-Yin (1105AD) of Northern Sung and Hui-Tzu (1160AD) and Kuan-Tzu (1131AD) of Southern Sung].

The use of paper moneys went on through the Yuan and Ming as well as the end of the Qing Dynasty. In 1897, China's first bank, the Commercial Bank of China was established by Sheng Hsuen Huai with the approval of the emperor, and beginning of issuing modern banknotes in China. Paper notes played their important roles in different stages of the money history of China.



Note issued by Tibetan Regional Government

10 Srang





Marks of Rareness of the Collected Currencies
Extremely Rare A ~ Very Rare B ~ Rare C ~ Not So Many D ~ Common D

Item No.: 374 Size: 145 x 87 mm Mint: Lhasa Rareness: D

Note:
According to the book of "Standard Catalog of World Paper Money" by Mr. Albert Pick, notes of the Srang system were made by pasting together 3 sheets of paper, the middle one having a 2-line security legend printed on it and they were many varieties in size, printing and color. Direct reading of security text is accomplished when the face is held up to a light source.

An article '重慶市博物館館藏西藏地方錢幣考述 - The Research of Tibetan Currency Collecting by Chungking Museum' from the book '重慶錢幣研究文集 - Chong Qing Bi Yan Jiu Wen Ji, page 221' by Mr. Li Ning and Mr. Yi Ming, the article mentioned about a Tibetan 10 srang note collected by the museum, it didn't appear with the security legend. Last year, I collected a 10 srang note without security legend too. I have just wandered whether there were some of the 10 srang notes don't have security legend.

Peculiarity of 10 srang note:
Printing 1687-94 (1941-48). Blue on pink underprint (background printing) 2 linos at center. 4 lines of text. Back with dragons and linons.




Obverse





Reverse






More about Tibetan Paper Money
100 Tam Srang Note


More about Tibetan Paper Money
5 Srang Note


More about Tibetan Paper Money
25 Srang Note


More about Tibetan Paper Money
50 Tam Note


More about Tibetan Coinage
Szechuan Rupee : the Imitation of Indian Rupee


More about K'ang Ting Rupee
The Red Face Rupee


More about Tibetan Coinage
Tibetan Coinage I - The Nepalese and Tibetan Coinage in Qing Dynasty


More about Tibetan Coinage
Tibetan Coinage II - The Kong-par Tangka Coins


Some of My Spare Tibetan Coins

A New Tibetan Coinage Book - A Catalog of Tibetan coin of China





    Bibliography
  1. : 1987 p.17, 51, 55, 60. (The History of Tibetan Money).
  2. Albert Pick : Standard Catalog of World Paper Money, 7th Editio-Volume 2. p.1156
  3. Tibet Branch of the People's Bank of China: China Numismatics 1990.1 No.28 P.29


Home Page New Data Chronology Cast Coins Struck Coins Paper Money Links/Reference
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