500 New Taiwan Dollars Banknote (No Hologram Strip)

500 Yuan Dollar (Issued 1911)

Few banknotes from the New Taiwan Dollar series capture the spirit of Taiwanese national identity quite so vividly as this 500 Yuan issue, which departs entirely from the tradition of portraying political figures in favour of a scene drawn from everyday civic life. A currency expert examining this note would immediately be drawn to its unusually warm, rosy-pink palette and the striking central vignette, which prioritises cultural imagery over statesmanship. The combination of this celebratory scene with the technical sophistication of the printing makes it a distinctive piece within the New Taiwan Dollar family. Its withdrawn status also means it now serves as a tangible record of a particular moment in Taiwan’s monetary and social history.

On the front, the central design is dominated by a lively and finely engraved scene of young baseball players in uniform, their arms raised in celebration, tossing their caps into the air in a moment of apparent triumph. Baseball holds profound cultural significance in Taiwan, and the choice of this imagery for the nation’s 500 Yuan denomination reflects its status as something close to a national passion. The figures are rendered in warm reddish-brown intaglio engraving against a softly printed background that transitions through pale pink and cream tones, with fine guilloché patterning visible across the left and right margins. To the upper centre of the note, the issuing authority is identified in Chinese characters as 中華民國 (Republic of China) above 中央銀行 (Central Bank), both printed in a rich, deep red-brown. The denomination numeral 500 appears in bold format to the upper left, with the Chinese character equivalent 伍佰圓 rendered in formal script to the lower right. The serial number JT838159WH appears twice — once vertically along the left edge and once horizontally in the upper right quadrant — printed in a matching dark reddish tone. A small floral rosette emblem, representing the plum blossom, is visible to the upper left of centre, and the printer’s notation 中央印製廠 appears discreetly along the lower central margin, identifying the Central Engraving and Printing Plant as the producer of the note.

The reverse presents an altogether more tranquil composition, centred on a beautifully detailed engraving of a group of Formosan sika deer — a species native to Taiwan and once widespread across the island. The herd, comprising both stags and younger deer, is depicted gathered together in a naturalistic setting, rendered in warm reddish-brown intaglio engraving with considerable anatomical precision. The stags display full antlers, and the grouping includes smaller juvenile animals lying and standing among the adults, giving the scene a sense of natural harmony. Behind the deer, the background opens into a softly washed landscape rendered in lilac and pale blue watercolour-style printing, suggesting open sky and distant foliage. To the upper right, sprays of bamboo are depicted in a fine, muted green-grey tone, adding further botanical detail to the composition. The denomination numeral 500 appears prominently in the upper left in reddish-brown, and the Chinese character denomination 伍佰圓 is positioned in the lower right. A small circular floral watermark device is visible to the right of centre. Along the lower left margin, the date inscription 中華民國八十九年製版 is printed in fine text, indicating the plate was made in the 89th year of the Republic of China, corresponding to the year 2000.

Exchange foreign coins and notes with no fuss: Webuyallcurrency.com accepts this 500 Yuan New Taiwan Dollar banknote and other old or withdrawn New Taiwan Dollars banknotes, paying out for everything together in a single transaction.

• Indicate the quantity of 500 Yuan Dollar banknotes you want to exchange
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• Your online account now shows the exchange value

Webuyallcurrency.com brings all your foreign currency together: exchange or sell New Taiwan Dollars banknotes and other old, withdrawn or modern coins and notes for cash, with no specialist knowledge needed.

Other New Taiwan Dollars you can exchange: 1, 5, 10, 50, 100, 200, 1000, 2000.