The 2011 Republic of China (Taiwan) 100-Dollar Commemorative Banknote (B501b):
The 2011 NT$100 commemorative banknote (catalogue B501b) was issued on 6 January 2011 by the Central Bank of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Republic of China (ROC). Unlike many global commemorative issues that adopt radically new designs or non-standard formats, this note represents a deliberate choice of continuity through symbolism, preserving the familiar design of the standard NT$100 note (B501a) while subtly embedding commemorative meaning through text and context. As such, the note occupies a unique position at the intersection of circulation currency, historical memory, and national identity.
Physical Description and Visual Design
The commemorative note is printed on red-tinted security paper and measures 145 × 70 mm, consistent with the standard NT$100 series. The obverse features a finely engraved portrait of Sun Yat-sen, rendered in intaglio style. His depiction follows long-established iconographic conventions in ROC currency: a forward-facing, dignified pose conveying intellectual authority and revolutionary legitimacy. The choice of Sun Yat-sen reflects his enduring role as the ideological founder of the Republic of China and a unifying symbol across political, historical, and cultural narratives.
The reverse presents the Chung-Shan Building, a monumental structure associated with national assemblies, cultural ceremonies, and state functions. Architecturally, the building blends traditional Chinese palace aesthetics with modern civic design, making it an apt metaphor for the ROC’s self-conception as a modern republic rooted in Chinese civilization.
The sole visual distinction between the commemorative note and the regular issue lies in the additional Chinese inscription on the reverse, reading: “Celebrating the 100 years of founding of the Republic of China.” This restrained modification reinforces the commemorative purpose without disrupting circulation usability or public familiarity.
Printing and Security Technologies
From a technical perspective, the B501b note employs the same advanced banknote printing technologies used in the standard series, underscoring its status as a legal tender rather than a medallic or souvenir issue. The production combines intaglio printing for tactile depth, offset lithography for complex background patterns, and microprinting for anti-counterfeiting protection.
Security features include finely layered guilloché patterns, latent images, color-shifting elements, and precisely registered design components that align across printing stages. These technologies serve a dual function: safeguarding monetary integrity and demonstrating the technical sophistication of the ROC’s banknote production capabilities. Importantly, the central bank chose not to introduce experimental or novel security elements, reinforcing the note’s role as a circulating commemoration rather than a technological showcase.
Symbolism and Commemorative Meaning
The symbolic strength of the B501b lies in its intentional conservatism. By examining what was not changed, one gains insight into the central bank’s commemorative philosophy. Retaining the familiar NT$100 design suggests continuity of statehood rather than rupture or reinvention. The Republic of China is presented as a living political entity with a century-long institutional lineage, not merely a historical memory.
The color red—already dominant in the NT$100 denomination—takes on amplified meaning in the commemorative context. Traditionally associated with prosperity, vitality, and legitimacy in Chinese culture, red also functions as a visual marker of celebration and endurance. In this way, the note bridges cultural symbolism and modern state identity.
Historical Context: The ROC Centennial
The issuance coincided with ROC Year 100, a milestone laden with historical complexity. Founded in 1912 following the Xinhai Revolution, the Republic of China underwent dramatic transformations: warlordism, Japanese invasion, civil war, relocation to Taiwan in 1949, and eventual democratization in the late 20th century. By 2011, the ROC in Taiwan had redefined itself as a pluralistic, democratic society while maintaining constitutional continuity with its 1912 origins.
The centennial banknote thus operates as a material artifact of historical narrative, asserting continuity despite geopolitical rupture. It affirms the ROC’s institutional survival and cultural legitimacy through everyday economic life—passed hand to hand, wallet to wallet, rather than confined to museums.
Numismatic Context and Collector Reception
In addition to circulation issues, the central bank released a numismatic product consisting of an uncut three-note sheet, packaged in a commemorative folder and sold at a premium price of NT$500. This dual-track approach—circulation note plus collector format—reflects a growing global trend in which central banks address both functional monetary needs and scholarly or collector interest.
For collectors, the B501b is valued less for rarity and more for contextual significance. Its importance lies in its role as a centennial marker, its restrained design philosophy, and its place within the broader narrative of modern Chinese and Taiwanese numismatics.
Conclusion
The 2011 NT$100 commemorative banknote (B501b) stands as a refined example of how a modern state can use circulating currency as a medium of historical reflection. Through conservative design, advanced printing technology, and carefully calibrated symbolism, the Central Bank of the Republic of China (Taiwan) transformed an everyday object into a subtle yet powerful carrier of national memory. For researchers and collectors alike, the note offers a compelling case study in the intersection of money, history, and identity in the 21st century.