China - Ming Dynasty 1 Kuan Note (1368-1399)

[Scottishmoney]

This was a recent purchase, a purchase that I will enjoy only temporarily as this was purchased as a gift:

 

 

The actual size of this note is approximately 220mm X 330mm or 9" X 13" inches, until the Philippines printed a 100000 Piso note that is larger in 1998 this note was the world record holder for the largest paper money ever created - a true horseblanket.

 

The story goes that a stash of these notes were found in the early 1900's in Beijing, hidden under an idol where they had apparently been placed several hundred years before. This hoard of notes is the sole source of the great many of these notes, otherwise reported notes dating back to the 3rd century AD have not been located.

 

This note was printed on paper manufactured from mulberry bark, thus the darker colour of the note. By the time of the Ming Dynasty under Emperor Hung Woo(1368-1399) inflation and a lack of coin to pay out these notes rendered them nearly worthless. In fact, in a foreboding of things to come for paper money much later on, this paper money quickly lost all value and was viewed with great mistrust by the population. Paper money would not be issued again in China until the 1850's, again during troubled times. Of course by then most places in the world were issuing paper money in lieu of coin and money has never been the same since.

[KevDownUnderInOz]

This item is a true treasure.

 

The sort of thing Indiana Jones would have been chasing.

 

Did they find and have to de-fuse ancient mantraps.

 

I wonder what protection they had from the elements for all those years.

Perhaps the idol was doing its job.

[cartwheel]

What a tremendous note, whoever you are giving it to as a gift is extremely lucky.