Second series of the renminbi

The second series of Renminbi banknotes was introduced on March 1, 1955. Together with the introduction of the second series, the decimal point was moved 4 places to the left. As a result, one first series ¥10,000 note is equivalent to one second series ¥1 note.

Coins

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Obverse Reverse Value Technical parameters Description Date of
Diameter Composition Edge Obverse Reverse year issue withdrawal
¥0.01 18 mm Aluminium-magnesium alloy Intermittent wire teeth Wheat, value, year of minting Emblem of the People's Republic of China 1955-2018 December 1, 1957 Current
¥0.02 21 mm 1956-2000
¥0.05 24 mm 1955-2000
For table standards, see the coin specification table.

Though rarely used, coins of the 2nd series are still valid in the PRC, and the PBC also put new coins to the market.

Banknotes

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Each note has the words "People's Bank of China" as well as the denomination in the Uyghur, Tibetan and Mongolian (but not Zhuang, as the Zhuang alphabet was not invented yet) languages on the back, which has since appeared in each series of Renminbi notes.

The denominations available were:

2nd Series Banknotes
Image Value Dimensions Main color Description Date of Remark
Obverse Reverse Obverse Reverse issue withdrawal completely recalled
    ¥0.01 90 × 42.5 mm Yellow ZIS-150 / FAW Jiefang CA10 (built in China under license of ZiS) 4-Tonne Truck National Emblem of the People's Republic of China March 1, 1955 July 1, 2003 April 1, 2007 With serial number and printed in China
    ¥0.02 95 × 45 mm Blue Lisunov Li-2 (built in the Soviet Union under license of the Douglas DC-3)
    ¥0.05 100 × 47.5 mm Green Steam ship Hailiao, came over to the Communists from Hong Kong under the blockade of the Nationalists.
    ¥0.1 115 × 52.5 mm Yellow-brown Tractor December 15, 1967 January 1, 1999 Printed in China
    ¥0.2 120 × 55 mm Green Locomotive November 15, 1971
    ¥0.5 125 × 57.5 mm Purple Dam
    ¥1 150 × 67.5 mm Red Tiananmen October 20, 1969
    ¥2 155 × 70 mm Blue Mount Baota in Yan'an, Shaanxi December 1976
    ¥3 160 × 72.5 mm Green Longyuankou Bridge in Yongxin, Jiangxi April 15, 1964 May 15, 1964 Printed in Soviet Union
    ¥5 165 × 75 mm Brown Unite of races
    ¥10 210 × 85 mm Blue and black Labor and farmer December 1, 1957
For table standards, see the banknote specification table.
2nd Series Banknotes, Yuan (1956 series)
Image Value Dimensions Main color Description Date of Remark
Obverse Reverse Obverse Reverse issue withdrawal completely recalled
    ¥1 150 × 67.5 mm Black Tiananmen National Emblem of China March 25, 1961 August 15, 1973 January 1, 1999 Printed in China
    ¥5 165 × 75 mm Yellow-brown Unite of races April 20, 1962 December 1, 1983
For table standards, see the banknote specification table.
2nd Series Banknotes (1981 series) 1
Image Value Dimensions Main color Description Date of Remark
Obverse Reverse Obverse Reverse issue withdrawal completely recalled
    ¥0.01 As 1953 notes, without serial number July 14, 1981 July 1, 2003 April 1, 2007 Without serial number and printed in China
    ¥0.02
    ¥0.05
For table standards, see the banknote specification table.

Remark

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  1. The ¥0.01, ¥0.02 and ¥0.05 notes, introduced on July 14, 1981, can also be argued as a member of the third series because it was issued in 1981 (Third edition period).

The ¥3, ¥5 and ¥10 notes of 1953 series were printed in the Soviet Union. As a result of the Sino-Soviet split, the Soviets started printing these banknotes as counterfeits as a part of Economic warfare against China and thus such counterfeit notes were found in Xinjiang after several border conflicts. The use of the 1953 series banknotes was halted on April 15, 1964, to be withdrawn and these banknotes were recalled completely on May 15, 1964. The 1953 series is the only series of Renminbi to include a ¥3 banknote.

Except for the ¥3, ¥5, ¥10, ¥0.01, ¥0.02, and ¥0.05 banknotes of the 1953 series, all banknotes were recalled completely on January 1, 1999. The use of the three ¥0.01, ¥0.02, and ¥0.05 banknotes was halted on July 1, 2003, to be withdrawn and these banknotes were recalled completely on April 1, 2007.

References

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