People’s Bank of China
One Hundred Yuan · Millennium commemorative · Dragon · Year 2000
Historical and Issue Context
The People’s Republic’s first polymer note: on 24 November 2000 the People’s Bank of China announced that on 28 November it would issue the “迎接新世纪纪念钞”, a 100-yuan plastic banknote, together with a 10-yuan commemorative coin. A Xining-branch FAQ remembers it as the 100-yuan plastic millennium note, called “龙钞” among collectors because 2000 was also a Year of the Dragon.1,2
Legal tender, not a souvenir: the notice sets the face value at 100 yuan, the size at 165 × 80 mm, and the print run at 10 million sets. The note “has the same functions as circulating renminbi” and is equal in value to the paper 100 yuan. It should not be confused with the Bank of China (中国银行): the issuer is the central bank, 中国人民银行. People’s Daily Online, translating the notice the same day, incorrectly wrote “Bank of China.”2,5
Guardian® and a Chinese DOE: the Reserve Bank of Australia’s 2001 Annual Report lists the People’s Bank of China 2000 100 Yuan among Securency’s export customers. Securency, the RBA–UCB joint venture, makes Guardian® substrate. The same report says the diffractive optical element (DOE) was incorporated in China’s 100 yuan.3 The PBOC notice does not name the substrate or the printer; PMG attributes printing to China Banknote Printing and Minting Corporation.4
A city dragon and a year-2000 monument: the obverse takes the “升龙” (ascending dragon) from Beijing’s Nine-Dragon Wall and a flaming pearl; the reverse shows the China Millennium Monument (中华世纪坛) with feitian figures. The specimen on this record carries serial J04445744. PMG also describes an I replacement prefix and uncut pairs; that breakdown is not in the official notice.2,4
Key Details Visible on the Banknote
- Obverse: a golden dragon in flight toward a flaming pearl, from the notice “based on the 升龙 of Beijing’s Nine-Dragon Wall.” Above, “中国人民银行”; below, “壹佰圆” and “迎接新世纪纪念钞.” (Specimen examination.)2,6
- Transparent window: a ruyi-shaped window at left with the Temple of Heaven (天坛), described in the notice as “票面左侧透明视窗为‘天坛’图案.” (Specimen examination.)2,6
- Holographic mark: a circular seal at right with “千年” and “2000.” The notice calls it a “动态全息标志”; the RBA identifies a DOE on this 100 yuan.2,3
- Reverse: the China Millennium Monument (中华世纪坛), feitian, the national emblem, “ZHONGGUO RENMIN YINHANG,” “YINGJIE XINSHIJI JINIANCHAO,” and “2000年,” plus the bank name and denomination in Mongolian, Tibetan, Uyghur, and Zhuang. (Specimen examination.)2,6
- Serial number: J04445744 at lower left on the obverse. (Specimen examination.)
- Color: ochres, oranges, and gold; the official notice says the main hue is golden yellow (“金黄色”).2
Notes
1. People’s Bank of China, Xining branch — “我国目前已发行了几种纪念钞？” (opens in a new tab): confirms the 28 November 2000 issue of the plastic 100-yuan “迎接新世纪” note and the collectors’ nickname “龙钞.” Issuer: People’s Bank of China.
2. People’s Bank of China announcement, 24 November 2000, “关于发行迎接新世纪纪念钞、纪念币的公告” (opens in a new tab) (reprint of the official notice): “金黄色” main color; obverse with 升龙, flaming pearl, Temple of Heaven window, and a dynamic hologram; reverse with 中华世纪坛, feitian, pinyin, national emblem, and four ethnic-language lines; 100 yuan; 165 × 80 mm; plastic; 10 million sets; legal tender at par.
3. Reserve Bank of Australia, Annual Report 2001, Note Printing Australia and Securency (opens in a new tab): Securency export-customer table, “2000 | People's Bank of China | 100 Yuan”; the DOE “has been incorporated in … the 100 Yuan for China.”
4. PMG, “From the Grading Room: Millennium Dragon” (18 November 2014) (opens in a new tab): Pick 902; printing attributed to BPMC; J prefix (~9.1 million), I replacements, uncut pairs, and a folder. That breakdown is not in the PBOC notice.
5. People’s Daily Online, “New Commemorative Bills/Coins to Mark Millennium” (24 November 2000) (opens in a new tab): contemporary press confirmation of 28 November 2000, 165 × 80 mm, 10 million sets, and the design. It incorrectly writes “Bank of China” instead of People’s Bank of China.
6. Examination of the Notofilia collection specimen: obverse and reverse in clear sleeves; serial J04445744; dragon, pearl, Temple of Heaven window, “千年” / “2000” seal, 中华世纪坛, and pinyin legends.