Find a "big black box" while cleaning your house? Don't rush to move in or sell! You might be holding a forgotten piece of Sino-Soviet history.

While doing a thorough house cleaning over the weekend, I found a rusty tin box under my grandfather's bed. Opening it, besides a few old photos and a faded badge, I discovered a large, dark ten-dollar banknote, almost twice the size of a modern Hong Kong dollar bill. The banknote featured workers, peasants, and soldiers, evoking a strong sense of the era, and bore the inscription "People's Bank of China," with the year "1953."

Your first thought might be, "Do I even need this? How much is it worth?"

But please wait a moment. Before you rush to search online for "old RMB buyback prices," Gu Jin Jian Bao would like to invite you to take three minutes to learn about the fascinating, almost forgotten history behind this " Big Black Ten " banknote.

A single banknote bears witness to a period of "Sino-Soviet honeymoon".

The 1953 edition 10-yuan note in your hand is the first of the "Four Heavenly Kings" in the second edition of the Renminbi . Due to its large size and dark color, it is popularly known as the "Big Black 10".

But its most special feature is not its size, but its "pedigree"—it was printed by the Soviet Union.

• Historical Context: In the early 1950s, the People's Republic of China had just been founded and was in dire need of reconstruction. Due to limited domestic banknote printing technology and anti-counterfeiting capabilities, in order to stabilize the financial system, the Chinese government commissioned the Soviet Union, then its "big brother," to assist in the design and printing of several high-denomination banknotes, including 10-yuan, 5-yuan, and 3-yuan notes.
  
  
• Superior Craftsmanship: The " Big Black Ten " banknote employed advanced intaglio printing technology at the time, resulting in delicate lines and a clearly visible anti-counterfeiting watermark (a fixed national emblem watermark). Its printing process far surpassed that of other denominations of banknotes printed domestically at the time. This is one of the reasons why it remains highly regarded by collectors to this day.
  
  
• A Turning Point in History: However, this "honeymoon period" of Sino-Soviet friendship did not last long. With the breakdown of Sino-Soviet relations in the 1960s, in order to prevent the Soviet Union from using its printing plates to impact China's financial system, the People's Bank of China decisively decided in 1964 to recall all banknotes printed by the Soviet Union within one month. The "Big Black Ten" banknote thus disappeared from the historical stage.

This means that every " Big Black Ten " bill in your hand is not only currency, but also a living fossil of a piece of international relations history.

The value of the "Big Black Ten" coin goes far beyond its face value.

It is precisely because of its special historical background and extremely short circulation period (less than 10 years), coupled with the relatively thorough recall at the time, that the " Big Black Ten " is extremely rare and has become a coveted treasure for collectors.

To determine the value of a "Big Black Ten" banknote, the following points should be considered:

• Condition is king:
  • Uncirculated: The notes are crisp and sharp, with all four corners, representing the highest quality.
  • Circulated banknotes: Banknotes with obvious creases, stains, softening, or even missing corners will have their value significantly reduced. However, even " Big Black Ten " banknotes in poor condition still possess a certain collectible value due to their rarity.
• Authenticity Verification: Due to its high value, many counterfeit versions exist on the market. Genuine " Big Black Ten " banknotes have unique ink texture and watermark characteristics. If unsure, it's best to have it authenticated by a professional.
• Interesting Numbers: If your banknotes contain lucky numbers such as "888" or "666", or some special "fun numbers", their value may be higher.

Let professionals do what they are good at.

After reading the above introduction, you should now have a completely new understanding of the " Big Black Dollar " in your hand. It is not just money, but also a legacy of family memories and a microcosm of an era.

If you would like to learn more about its market value, or if you are considering finding a good home for it, Gujin Appraisal is happy to assist you.

• Free preliminary appraisal: Simply send us a clear photo of the banknote, and our team of experts will provide you with a free preliminary appraisal opinion.
  
  
• Fair and Transparent Recycling: We specialize in the collection and recycling of old RMB banknotes, are familiar with market conditions, and promise to conduct transactions at fair and transparent prices.
  
  
• Respect for historical value: We deeply understand the story behind every old banknote and will treat your collection with the utmost professionalism and respect.

Rather than letting this history continue to slumber at the bottom of a drawer, let its value shine anew today.

Contact us now

Want to know how much your old coins are worth? Contact Ancient Gold Appraisal now!

• WhatsApp Quick Search: 98342057 (Click the number to start a conversation)
  
  
• Telephone inquiry hotline: 852-98342057

We look forward to discovering more surprises in "Housekeeping Treasure Hunting" with you!