{"product_id":"korea-p-cs21-1000-won-2018-unc-commemorative-70th-anniversary-republic","title":"Korea P-CS21 1000 Won 2018 UNC—Commemorative—70th Anniversary of Regime","description":"\u003cp\u003eA rare commemorative overprint marking the \u003cstrong\u003e70th Anniversary of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (1948–2018)\u003c\/strong\u003e — one of the most isolated and tightly controlled nations on Earth, issuing banknotes that almost no one inside the country ever collects.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFront\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMangyongdae\u003c\/strong\u003e — the birthplace of \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Kim_Il-sung\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eKim Il Sung\u003c\/a\u003e, depicted as a traditional Korean log cabin in a forested hillside setting\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eState emblem\u003c\/strong\u003e — featuring a hydroelectric power station, a shining star, and the Paektu-san mountain, framed by rice sheaves and a red ribbon\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCommemorative overprint\u003c\/strong\u003e — text in green and red at center-left beneath the coat of arms, marking the 70th anniversary of the republic\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eInscriptions in \u003cstrong\u003eHangul\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eBack\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLake Samji\u003c\/strong\u003e (\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Samjiyon\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eSamjiyon\u003c\/a\u003e) — a scenic volcanic caldera lake near Mount Paektu in the far north of North Korea, promoted as a revolutionary and tourist site\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eInscriptions in \u003cstrong\u003eHangul\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eOther Characteristics\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eVarieties:\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOverprint 2018 — this note\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cem\u003eSpecimen\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCatalog numbers:\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBank Note Museum (banknote.ws) lists as Pick P-CS21;\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNumista lists as Pick P-CS23 and Numista #204571\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWatermark:\u003c\/strong\u003e Blossoms of Siebold's Magnolia\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSecurity thread:\u003c\/strong\u003e Present\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eComposition:\u003c\/strong\u003e Paper\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e 145 × 65 mm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIssuing entity:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Central_Bank_of_the_Democratic_People%27s_Republic_of_Korea\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eCentral Bank of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea\u003c\/a\u003e (조선민주주의인민공화국중앙은행)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSignatures:\u003c\/strong\u003e None\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDemonetized:\u003c\/strong\u003e No — \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Demonetization_(currency)\" target=\"_blank\"\u003edemonetization\u003c\/a\u003e of the Third Won has not occurred\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCurrency:\u003c\/strong\u003e Third Won (2009–date)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOfficial language:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Korean_language\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eKorean\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout North Korea\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin of name:\u003c\/strong\u003e \"Korea\" derives from the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Goryeo\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eGoryeo dynasty\u003c\/a\u003e (918–1392 AD); \"North\" distinguishes it from South Korea following the 1945 partition. The Korean name \u003cem\u003eJoseon\u003c\/em\u003e (조선) references the ancient \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Joseon\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eJoseon dynasty\u003c\/a\u003e (1392–1897)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCapital:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Pyongyang\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ePyongyang\u003c\/a\u003e — city pop. ~3.1 million; metro pop. ~3.3 million\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin of name:\u003c\/strong\u003e From Korean \u003cem\u003ePyeongyang\u003c\/em\u003e (평양), meaning \"flat land\" or \"peaceful land\"\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePopulation:\u003c\/strong\u003e ~26 million (UN 2024) — similar to Texas or Australia\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eArea:\u003c\/strong\u003e 120,538 km² (46,541 mi²) — similar to Mississippi or Greece\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGDP per capita (\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Purchasing_power_parity\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ePPP\u003c\/a\u003e):\u003c\/strong\u003e ~$1,800 (est.) — one of the lowest in the world; reliable data is unavailable due to state secrecy\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMain exports:\u003c\/strong\u003e Coal, iron ore, zinc, copper, textiles, seafood (largely via illicit channels due to UN sanctions)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBorders:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/China\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eChina\u003c\/a\u003e (north), \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Russia\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eRussia\u003c\/a\u003e (northeast), \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/South_Korea\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eSouth Korea\u003c\/a\u003e (south, DMZ)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOfficial\/spoken language:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Korean_language\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eKorean\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEthnicities:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Koreans\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eKorean\u003c\/a\u003e (~100%)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMemberships:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/United_Nations\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eUnited Nations\u003c\/a\u003e (1991); \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Non-Aligned_Movement\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eNon-Aligned Movement\u003c\/a\u003e (1975); \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/G77\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eG77\u003c\/a\u003e;\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSovereignty:\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAncient Korean kingdoms — \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Gojoseon\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eGojoseon\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Three_Kingdoms_of_Korea\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eThree Kingdoms\u003c\/a\u003e, Goryeo, Joseon\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Korea_under_Japanese_rule\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eJapanese colonial rule\u003c\/a\u003e (1910–1945)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSoviet occupation of northern Korea (1945–1948)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Democratic_People%27s_Republic_of_Korea\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eDemocratic People's Republic of Korea\u003c\/a\u003e proclaimed (1948) under \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Kim_Il-sung\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eKim Il Sung\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Korean_War\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eKorean War\u003c\/a\u003e (1950–1953) — armistice, no peace treaty; technically still at war with South Korea\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eKim dynasty rule (1948–date): Kim Il Sung → \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Kim_Jong-il\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eKim Jong Il\u003c\/a\u003e → \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Kim_Jong-un\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eKim Jong Un\u003c\/a\u003e — \u003cstrong\u003ethis note issued during Kim Jong Un's rule\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eNorth Korea Unfiltered\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNorth Korea has conducted \u003cstrong\u003esix nuclear weapons tests\u003c\/strong\u003e (2006–2017) and possesses an estimated 40–50 warheads as of 2024\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe country operates a \u003cstrong\u003esongbun\u003c\/strong\u003e (성분) caste system — citizens are classified by political loyalty into 51 sub-categories that determine housing, food, education, and career for life\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAn estimated \u003cstrong\u003e80,000–120,000 people\u003c\/strong\u003e are held in political prison camps (\u003cem\u003ekwanliso\u003c\/em\u003e), where three generations of a family can be imprisoned for one person's perceived disloyalty\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNorth Korea has the \u003cstrong\u003eworld's largest military relative to population\u003c\/strong\u003e — roughly 1.28 million active troops out of 26 million people\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe country operates on \u003cstrong\u003eJuche calendar\u003c\/strong\u003e — year 1 is 1912, the birth year of Kim Il Sung; 2024 is Juche 113\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eElectricity is so scarce that \u003cstrong\u003esatellite images at night\u003c\/strong\u003e show North Korea as almost entirely dark between the bright lights of China and South Korea\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eDMZ\u003c\/strong\u003e (Demilitarized Zone) separating North and South Korea has, paradoxically, become one of the most biodiverse wildlife corridors in Asia due to 70+ years of human absence\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eThe Hermit Kingdom's Banknote\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNorth Korea's banknotes are among the \u003cstrong\u003emost difficult to legally obtain\u003c\/strong\u003e in the world. The state controls all currency flows; ordinary citizens rarely handle foreign currency, and exporting won is effectively prohibited. This note reached the outside world through the narrow channels of diplomatic exchange, defector networks, or sanctioned numismatic trade — making every example a minor miracle of provenance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eMangyongdae: Sacred Ground of the Kim Cult\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe log cabin at \u003cstrong\u003eMangyongdae\u003c\/strong\u003e is North Korea's most sacred secular site — the birthplace of Kim Il Sung, visited by millions of schoolchildren annually as a mandatory pilgrimage. Its depiction on currency is not decorative; it is \u003cstrong\u003eideological\u003c\/strong\u003e. The state emblem alongside it — hydroelectric dam, shining star, Paektu-san — encodes the entire mythology of the DPRK: \u003cem\u003eself-reliance, revolutionary origin, eternal leadership\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eLake Samji: Where the Revolution Was Born\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLake Samji\u003c\/strong\u003e sits near Mount Paektu, the volcanic peak the Kim dynasty claims as the birthplace of Kim Jong Il (a claim disputed by historians, who place his birth in the Soviet Union). The lake and mountain are the \u003cstrong\u003espiritual heartland of North Korean mythology\u003c\/strong\u003e — appearing on stamps, murals, and now this commemorative note. To own this reverse is to hold a piece of the most elaborately constructed personality cult in modern history.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eA 70th Anniversary the World Wasn't Invited To\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003e2018 overprint\u003c\/strong\u003e commemorates seven decades of the DPRK — a state that has outlasted the Soviet Union, survived famine, sanctions, and international isolation, and passed power through three generations of a single family. The overprint itself is modest: green and red text on the obverse. But the note it marks is anything but. \u003cstrong\u003eOwn this\u003c\/strong\u003e piece of one of history's most extraordinary political experiments — a nation that prints its own mythology directly onto its money.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCondition: Uncirculated (UNC). Shipped in a protective sleeve.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"World Money Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52092685943095,"sku":"KPCS21-1000-70th-UNC","price":2.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0969\/7165\/3431\/files\/CS21-1000o.jpg?v=1778087817","url":"https:\/\/worldmoneystore.com\/products\/korea-p-cs21-1000-won-2018-unc-commemorative-70th-anniversary-republic","provider":"World Money Store","version":"1.0","type":"link"}