Macau P-80c (2) Banca Nacional Ultramarina 10 patacas 2013 UNC sea goddess temple
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Color: Red
Front: Statue of A-Ma goddess of the sea
Back: Banco Nacional Ultramarino Building in Macau
Watermark: Golden Lotus, Electrotype '10'
Signatures: Pedro Manuel de Oliveira Cardoso; José João Guilherme
UV activity as shown
About Macau/Macao and the goddess A-Ma
Once a Portuguese colony and, since 1999, a Special Administrative Region, Macao keeps its own laws and the pataca (MOP) under the “one country, two systems” framework. Multiple commercial banks are authorized to print notes—most prominently Banco da China and Banco Nacional Ultramarino—a legacy of the territory’s hybrid Portuguese–Chinese financial structure.
The A-Ma Temple, dedicated to the sea-goddess Mazu, predates the Portuguese arrival and gave Macao its name. Its layered Taoist–Buddhist–folk architecture mirrors the broader blend that shaped the city’s identity, even as modern Macao became defined by regulated casinos and an economy built around gaming tourism.
Two banks issue currency in Macau, the Bank of China and the Banco Nacional Ultramarino (BNU).
Traditionally spelled Macao in English, Macau a former Portuguese colony near Hong Kong, both of which are Special Administrative Regions (SAR) of China, with their own currency, laws, and institutions, though ultimately controlled by Beijing.
Banco Nacional Ultramarino (BNU)
Founded in 1864 in Lisbon, created explicitly to serve Portugal’s empire: Africa, India, Timor, and Macau, it opened its Macau branch in 1902, becoming the territory’s de facto central-bank-like institution for decades. It iIssued Macanese pataca (MOP) banknotes from the early 20th century onward.
The BNU headquarters in Macau (Avenida Almeida Ribeiro) is a restrained late-colonial modernist landmark—quietly authoritative, very Estado Novo in spirit.
Numismatic Poetry: its notes often featured Portuguese explorers, maritime allegories, Baroque guilloché mixed with East Asian motifs—a visual fusion of Atlantic empire and Pearl River Delta trade culture. Banco Ultramarino is a fossil of empire that still breathes— a 19th-century colonial bank that, improbably, remains a 21st-century currency issuer inside the People’s Republic of China.
Bank of China (Banco da China in Portuguese)
1. A Communist Bank Printing Colonial-Style Currency
The Bank of China, born from revolution and nationalization, now prints:
-
Ornate guilloché
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Classical allegories
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European engraving aesthetics
— to harmonize with BNU’s legacy style.
It is ideological neutrality in ink.
2. A Central Bank That Isn’t One
Like BNU, BOC is a commercial bank with quasi-sovereign monetary authority in Macau.
Very few institutions in the world straddle: Retail banking, Global FX clearing, Currency issuance, State financial strategy—all at once.
3. Perfectly Matched Twins
Collectors love the paired sets: Same denomination, same year, same security thread, same watermark placement— one says Banco Nacional Ultramarino, the other Bank of China. Two civilizational narratives, one design grammar.
4. Historical Irony
In 1912, BOC replaced the financial organs of the Qing. In 1999, it peacefully inherited a European colonial monetary system. In both cases, it absorbed rather than erased.
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Who is World Money Store?
World Money Store is me, Βrian Grοss, the sole proprietor of this small business, based in Washington D.C. I've spend half my adult life in The Netherlands and Mexico and have an addiction to travel, history and languages (Spanish, Dutch Russian and a few others); Arabic my current challenge. My personal instagram is @df2dc.
I've been on ebay for 22 years, and I am also on Whatnot. I put together the website myself, and do all the purchasing.
I travel around the world to personally select a range of banknotes that I KNOW match the interests of my customers, and by traveling to the right places, I get them at the best prices, too.
I have three main groups of customers:
1. the ones who love diverse colorful and affordable notes from around the world
2. those who love to own pieces of the propaganda of communist dictatorships (Cuba, North Korea) and "bad guys" like the Ayatollah, Saddam, Gadaffi. Iran (Shah, Ayatollah), Syria (Assad, current).
3. those who seek Venezuelan and Iranian currency. We sell banknotes for collecting purposes only (our intention).
I happen to have a lot of depth and breadth in Mexico and Brazil, in addition to Cuba and Iran.
I don't focus on anything from the U.S. and Canada, items from before World War II, "lucky" serial numbers, or PMG-graded items.
Buy with Confidence
- You will receive (a) banknote(s) similar to the one in the picture, in the condition mentioned in the listing title such as UNC, VF, etc. See below for definitions.
- Serial numbers will vary
- Authenticity: All banknotes are guaranteed genuine currency, sourced from reliable suppliers and verified by our team. Exception: some souvenir and gold foil notes that are clearly marked as souvenir, fantasy, gold foil, etc.
- Return the banknote within 14 days of receipt for your money back if not satisfied.
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Banknote Condition Guide (UNC, XF, VF, F etc.)
- UNC (Uncirculated): No folds/creases; full crispness/sheen. May have "half moon" at edge of security thread.
- AU (About Uncirculated): Nearly perfect, with a single light fold or handling mark that doesn't break the paper. Crisp and colorful.
- XF a.k.a. EF (Extremely Fine): Crisp, firm, bright; a few light folds or one firm crease.
- VF Plus: Minor folds/stains; white areas are bright, still not quite Extra Fine.
- VF (Very Fine): Several folds; paper firmer than average; corners lightly worn.
- VF Minus: VF but may show foxing (yellow/brown patches), thinner paper, more folds/wrinkles/small tears (1-3 mm), otherwise intact.
- F (Fine): Well-used, many folds or creases; paper is soft; some soiling and/or pen marks.
- VG (Very Good) / Limp/worn/faded with heavy creasing/edge wear/tears.
Coin grading guide
- BU (Brilliant Uncirculated): Mint luster, never used
- UNC (Uncirculated): No wear, may have minor bag marks
- VF: clear, readable, noticeably worn, duller surfaces, dirt/toning common
- XF: sharp detail, light high-point wear, traces of luster, mostly clean fields
- AU: near-mint detail, luster largely present, only tiny rub, minimal grime
- F (Fine): Significant wear, major details visible
- G (Good): Heavy wear, outlines and shape remain
A note on “dirt” and dark spots
Circulated coins often show some toning (natural color change of the metal) and sometimes adhered dirt/deposits (a bonded film or small patch that cannot be removed without conservation or cleaning). A coin can still be correctly graded VF/XF/AU even if it has a small, stubborn smudge—that typically affects eye appeal, not the underlying wear grade, unless it is corrosion or damage.
Very Fine (VF) coin
What VF means: The coin has seen real circulation. Major features are clear, but high points are noticeably worn down.
Wear & detail (what you’ll see)
- Moderate wear across the whole design
- High points are flattened/rounded (not sharp)
- Most major elements are fully visible (portrait, emblem, date, legends)
- Inner detail is partially worn: hair strands, feather lines, leaf veins may be merged or softened
- Rim is complete; lettering should be readable and strong
Marks, scratches, and rims
- Many small contact marks from circulation
- Light scratches/hairlines are common
- Small rim nicks or bumps may appear
- No single deep gouge should dominate the coin (unless disclosed as a problem)
Brilliance / luster
- No mint luster
- Surface looks matte or uniformly dull
- Any “shine” is usually from wear smoothing, not original luster
Color, toning, and dirt
- Toning is often medium gray/brown (varies by metal)
- Darker color may collect in recesses
- Adhered grime in protected areas is common
- You may see a small dark smudge/spot (a few mm) that cannot be removed without conservation
In plain terms: VF is solid, honest circulation with full readability and strong main design, but clearly worn.
Extremely Fine (XF) coin
What XF means: Only light circulation. The design is sharp, with wear mainly limited to the highest points.
Wear & detail (what you’ll see)
- Light wear on the highest points only
- Most inner detail remains crisp: separation in hair, feathers, shield lines, leaf structure
- Legends, date, and rims are sharp and well-defined
- High-point flatness is present but limited and localized
Marks, scratches, and rims
- Fewer marks than VF
- Small contact ticks may be present
- Light hairlines possible
- Rim usually clean with only minor nicks
Brilliance / luster
- Some original luster may remain, especially in protected areas (around lettering, inside wreaths, fields near devices)
- Coin may show a slight “flash” when tilted, but not full cartwheel luster
Color, toning, and dirt
- Toning tends to be lighter and thinner than VF
- Dirt is usually limited to crevices
- A stubborn smudge can exist, but it will stand out more against the otherwise clean surfaces
In plain terms: XF still looks “sharp” at a glance—most detail is there—with only light wear on the tops.
About Uncirculated (AU) coin
The coin looks close to uncirculated but has the slightest wear (often called “rub” or “friction”) on the highest points.
Wear & detail (what you’ll see)
- Nearly full detail
- Only the very highest points show faint friction (cheekbone, hair curls, eagle breast, crown tips, etc.)
- No broad flattening; design remains crisp
Marks, scratches, and rims
- Contact marks may exist (coins can get marks without heavy wear)
- “Bag marks” (small dings from storage/handling) may appear
- Major scratches or damage are not expected unless disclosed
Brilliance / luster
- Most mint luster is present
- Often shows a clear “cartwheel” effect when rotated in light
- The only dull areas should be on the tiny rub points
Color, toning, and dirt
- Toning may be present, sometimes attractive
- Dirt/deposits should be minimal
- A small dark patch (few mm) can still occur from old residue or contamination; it may be non-removable without conservation
- If the patch is corrosion/etching (metal damage), that is a problem, and should be disclosed separately
In plain terms: AU is a “near-mint” circulated coin—luster mostly intact, with only a whisper of wear.
Final thoughts
Grade primarily describes wear. Surface issues can exist at any grade:
- A coin can be VF/XF/AU and still have a small, stubborn smudge
- A coin with corrosion, pitting, holes, deep gouges, harsh cleaning, or heavy rim damage is considered a problem coin the we will describe specifically in the listing.