Japan 'Slender' Hansatsu

These Japanese Hansatsu notes issued in the 19th-century, are often referred to as Book Mark Money, because of their shape. A dealer friend recently went to Japan and picked up a group of these fascinating pieces of financial history, including these on offer now. They are printed in black on cream card with red seals and a vignette of a man in flowing robes.

The country we know as Taiwan today emerged after the Chinese Revolution of 1949. Chiang Kai Shek established his regime thereafter fleeing the Communists led by Mao Tse Tung in mainland China. Ever since the territory has been disputed by the People’s Republic of China. These 1 yuan notes were issued in the early 1960s (P971b) The front has a portrait of revered revolutionary Sun Yat-Sen and a rocky coastal landscape. The back illustrates the façade of a public building with a tower. Uncirculated.

When the Japanese invaded countries during World War 2 they introduced a new currency denominated according to the usual currency of the country but with the heading The Japanese Government. In the case of Malaya the notes produced were in dollars and were fairly simple affairs. These 5 dollars, issued during the occupation of Malaya have a simple illustration of breadfruit trees on the front and a design on the back.(PM6) Our examples grade AU.