North Korea, 1959, Second Issue, 50 Chon, TQG 67

Product Description

North Korean 1959 50-cheon banknote (geometric pattern watermark version, Pick #12), the second official circulating currency of North Korea. The entire series was still printed by the Goznak Printing Plant in the Soviet Union. A classic small-denomination subsidiary banknote of the 1950s, four-star rarity, high grade, rarely found in circulation, an essential item for collectors of complete sets of North Korean currency.

Front View Details

• The top horizontal line displays the country's name in Korean: "조선인민공화국 (People's Republic of Korea)," with a dark blue main color scheme and light gray background.

• The left side of the image features the North Korean national emblem, with a clear and complete five-pointed star, hydroelectric power plant, and rice ears, complemented by a hammer and hoe symbol of a worker and peasant below.

• To the right of the emblem is the bank's name: "조선중앙은행 (Central Bank of Korea)," with a red-printed serial number: ㄷㅂ 259368.

• The right side of the image features the Korean characters "오십전 (Fifty Cheese)" in large, artistic calligraphic script, against a pink floral background, with the year of issue, 1959, indicated in the lower right corner. Below the bank's name is a red official seal, "인장리사 (Chairman's Seal)," with four corners adorned with scrolling leaf-shaped anti-counterfeiting patterns. The entire page features a finely detailed, wavy, machine-engraved mesh pattern, demonstrating meticulous printing quality.

Reverse Details

• The top of the image features a horizontal line of Korean script within a light yellow floral frame: "조선중앙은행 (Central Bank of Korea)."

• The denomination "오십전" is symmetrically printed in Korean script on the left and right sides of the image, with a three-dimensional decorative numeral "50" in the center against a background of orange-red and light brown.

• Small numerals "50" are symmetrically marked on both left and right corners, surrounded by a European-style scrolling double anti-counterfeiting pattern with a clear, three-dimensional dark blue border.

• This banknote features an embedded Geometric Pattern watermark, a core identifying feature of this version; the watermark pattern differs in later reprints.

Condition Description

This banknote has been certified and sealed by TQG, an internationally recognized authority in banknote authentication, and received a grade of 67 GEPQ Superb Gem Unc (Perfect, uncirculated, and of excellent original paper quality, a plus). The banknote shows no signs of circulation whatsoever; there are no creases, edge wear, tears, or stains. The paper is crisp and flat, untouched by washing, ironing, or repairs. The national emblem, text, and engraving lines on both sides are perfectly intact; the red serial number and official seal ink are rich, full, and do not smudge. The transparent anti-oxidation seal protects the banknote perfectly, and the seal has an independent barcode 0101588-004, which can be scanned to access the complete official authentication record. Rarity：Four stars; a top-grade banknote of this denomination with a grade of 67 is extremely rare.

Specifications