The Fourth Series “Big Four” Set (8050, 80100, 9050, 90100) | Harbour Currency | Hong Kong, Macau and China banknotes and coins

In Chinese collecting shorthand, 大四 (“Big Four”) refers to the four highest-value fourth-series banknotes: the 1980 and 1990 editions of ¥50 and ¥100 — 8050, 80100, 9050 and 90100. Together they anchor the “large set” (大全套) and dominate secondary-market prices for the series.

What “Big Four” means

Chinese collectors use 大四 to describe the four highest fourth-series denominations: 8050 (P888a), 80100 (P889a), 9050 (P888b) and 90100 (P889b). All were issued by the People’s Bank of China between 1987 and 1992 and together account for most of the market value in a complete fourth-series collection.

8050 and 80100 — nicknamed the “king” and “queen” of the series — were printed in smaller quantities and heavily used before 2018 withdrawal. The 1990-dated 9050 and 90100 revisions added security threads and larger print runs, making high-grade examples easier to source for display sets.

The four notes at a glance

8050 (1987 issue): ¥50 dated 1980 — worker, farmer and intellectual; Hukou Waterfall reverse. Scarcest in high grade.
80100 (1988 issue): ¥100 dated 1980 — four leaders obverse, Jinggang Mountains reverse. Only 16 standard prefixes.
9050 & 90100 (1992 issue): 1990-dated revisions with security threads and UV printing; larger print runs than their 1980 counterparts.

Photos of the Big Four

Obverse of the fourth series RMB ¥50 (8050) — 8050, the "king" of the series. Worker, farmer and intellectual on the face. Image: China Banknote Printing and Minting Corporation

Reverse of the fourth series RMB ¥50 (8050) showing Hukou Waterfall — 8050 reverse: Hukou Waterfall, one of the most recognisable fourth-series landscapes. Image: China Banknote Printing and Minting Corporation

Obverse of the fourth series RMB ¥50 (9050) — 9050 uses the same portrait layout as 8050, dated 1990, with a security thread. Image: China Banknote Printing and Minting Corporation

Reverse of the fourth series RMB ¥50 (9050) — 9050 reverse still shows Hukou Waterfall, with 1990 in the date field. Image: China Banknote Printing and Minting Corporation

Obverse of the fourth series RMB ¥100 (80100) — 80100, the "queen" of the series. Four founding leaders on the face. Image: China Banknote Printing and Minting Corporation

Reverse of the fourth series RMB ¥100 (80100) showing Jinggang Mountains — 80100 reverse depicts the Jinggang Mountains. Image: China Banknote Printing and Minting Corporation

Obverse of the fourth series RMB ¥100 (90100) — 90100 keeps the same leader portrait as 80100, dated 1990, with enhanced security. Image: China Banknote Printing and Minting Corporation

Reverse of the fourth series RMB ¥100 (90100) — 90100 reverse: Jinggang Mountains, matching 80100 with 1990 dating. Image: China Banknote Printing and Minting Corporation

Sets, variants and buying advice

A full fourth-series set contains 14 paper varieties; the “small set” omits the Big Four plus several early ¥1/¥2 editions. Some 8050 notes were cut from four-in-one sheets (EE/BJ prefixes) — purists prefer original-issue singles. When assembling 大四, match grade across all four notes for display, and verify 8050/80100 dates and security features carefully.

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