With the 20-yuan Year of the Dragon note the People’s Bank of China began a new tradition — commemorative notes for the Chinese zodiac: the note is dated 2024 and entered circulation on 3 January 2024. It was followed by the Snake of 2025 and the Horse of 2026, so the zodiac cycle is forming a series in which each year receives its own note.

The front is laid out vertically: the national emblem of the PRC appears above the dragon, and the denomination is printed in optically variable ink across which a band of light moves as the note is tilted. On the back three children perform a dragon dance with traditional lanterns — a scene from the Spring Festival, the Chinese New Year.

The note is printed on polymer — a plastic substrate instead of paper — by the China Banknote Printing and Minting Corporation. The issue amounted to 100 million notes. As on ordinary yuan notes, the inscriptions on the back are repeated in Mongolian, Tibetan, Uyghur and Zhuang script.

For a China collection this is the opening note of the People’s Bank zodiac cycle, and for «dragons on money» and «polymer notes» topical sets it is one of the most striking pieces. UNC condition means the note has never circulated: no folds, no wear, no soiling, even corners — just as it left the press.

VPcoins specialises in coins and banknotes, so do take a look at the other items in our catalogue.