10 Chinese Yuan Foreign Exchange Certificate (1979)

Exchange 10 Chinese Yuan Foreign Exchange Certificates from 1979. Secure UK service for withdrawn and non-circulating Chinese banknotes.

The 10 Chinese Yuan Foreign Exchange Certificate, first issued in 1979, formed part of a dedicated currency series introduced by the Bank of China to manage foreign spending within the People’s Republic of China. These certificates were created during a period when China maintained strict controls over domestic currency use and foreign exchange.

Foreign Exchange Certificates (FECs) were issued primarily to foreign visitors, diplomats, and overseas Chinese. Although denominated in yuan and equivalent in face value to the Renminbi, they were not standard Chinese banknotes and were legally restricted to use in designated hotels, Friendship Stores, airports, and other approved locations. Ordinary Chinese citizens were not permitted to use FECs in daily transactions.

The obverse of the 10 Yuan certificate features an engraved scenic landscape, reflecting traditional Chinese artistic themes and national imagery. Decorative guilloché patterns, official seals, and serial numbers were incorporated to provide security and authenticity, consistent with late-1970s banknote design standards.

The reverse is printed in English and clearly identifies the note as a Foreign Exchange Certificate, stating that the yuan expressed is equivalent in value to Renminbi yuan but may only be used within China at designated places. This bilingual design highlights the certificate’s international function and intended audience.

Foreign Exchange Certificates were gradually withdrawn during the 1990s as China reformed its monetary system and allowed foreign visitors to use standard Renminbi. Today, the 10 Chinese Yuan Foreign Exchange Certificate (1979) is no longer valid for circulation but remains commonly found among legacy holdings and travel-era currency collections.

• Indicate the quantity of 10 Chinese Yuan Foreign Exchange Certificates you want to exchange

• Click the ‘Add to your account’ button

• Your online account now shows the exchange value

We provide a secure UK-based service for exchanging withdrawn and non-circulating Chinese currency, including Foreign Exchange Certificates. Many banks no longer accept these notes due to their specialist status and withdrawal from use, but we regularly handle legacy Chinese issues for individuals, charities, and businesses.

Rarer or less commonly encountered certificates may take longer than 5 days due to additional authenticity checks.