1 New Taiwan Dollar Banknote (1961 Issue)

1 Yuan Dollar (Issued 1911)

A restrained palette of cool grey and ivory dominates the front of this New Taiwan Dollar one-yuan note, with the denomination cartouche rendered in a deep crimson red that draws the eye immediately to the centre of the composition. The grey tones reflect the conservative, authoritative aesthetic that characterised mid-twentieth-century Taiwanese banknote design, projecting stability and institutional confidence during a period of significant monetary reform. Two small vermillion seal stamps flank the central cartouche, introducing the only warm colour contrast on an otherwise monochromatic face. The overall effect is sober and deliberate, consistent with the design philosophy of the Bank of Taiwan during this era.

On the front, the left portion of the note is dominated by a portrait of Sun Yat-sen, the founding father of the Republic of China, rendered in fine intaglio engraving with careful cross-hatching that gives depth and texture to his features and Western-style jacket. His image faces slightly to the right, presented within an oval frame surrounded by intricate guilloché patterning. The serial number S396377M appears twice in the upper register, printed in dark ink at the left and right extremities. The issuing authority is identified in traditional Chinese characters along the top — 臺灣銀行 (Bank of Taiwan) — in bold, clearly defined typography. The central denomination character 壹圓 (one yuan) is set within a ornate red oval cartouche, and beneath it the date is given in Republic of China calendar notation reading 中華民國五十年. To the right of centre, a detailed vignette depicts a dramatic coastal scene featuring a tall rocky sea arch or promontory rising from the water, with what appears to be a lighthouse or observation structure at its summit, all rendered in precise engraved linework. Floral corner ornaments appear at each corner of the note, and the printer’s credit 臺灣印刷廠印製 is visible along the very bottom edge.

The reverse is printed entirely in a single soft sage green, presenting a highly detailed engraved panoramic view of the Presidential Office Building in Taipei, a grand colonial-era structure featuring a prominent central clock tower flanked by symmetrical wings and set within spacious formal grounds. The engraving is executed with considerable finesse, capturing the architectural detail of the building’s façade, the open forecourt, surrounding trees, and a broad sky rendered through delicate horizontal line work that creates the impression of light and atmosphere. The numeral “1” appears in the lower left and lower right corners in plain serif typography. The border is composed of repeating foliate and scroll motifs forming a continuous decorative frame, with elaborated corner medallions incorporating stylised leaf forms. The overall green colouration was a widely used convention in banknote design of this period, associated with trust, growth, and financial integrity.

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• Indicate the quantity of 1 Yuan Dollar banknotes you want to exchange
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• Your online account now shows the exchange value

Exchange foreign coins and banknotes the easy way — Webuyallcurrency.com buys New Taiwan Dollars banknotes, current or discontinued, and combines them with the rest of your leftover currency for one simple payment.

Other New Taiwan Dollars you can exchange: 5, 10, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000, 2000.