5 Won (front) / 10 Won (back) KPW #393

Front

Supung Dam (Sup'ung Hydroelectric Power Station), one of the largest hydroelectric facilities in East Asia at the time of its construction in 1943. Located on the Yalu River between North Korea and China, the dam was a symbol of industrial development and featured prominently on North Korean currency. The infrastructure includes massive spillways, power transmission towers, and electrical transformers representing the nation's electrification efforts.

Back

National emblem of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea at upper right, featuring a hydroelectric power station within a wreath of rice, surmounted by a red star. The denomination '10' appears in a central guilloche rosette. The text includes 'Foreign Exchange Certificate' (외화바꿈표) in Korean, indicating this is a special-use note. The year '1988' is printed at lower right, with the word '십전' (10 won) at the bottom.

History

This note exhibits a significant mismatch: the front displays a 5 Won denomination featuring the Supung Dam, while the back shows a 10 Won Foreign Exchange Certificate dated 1988. North Korea issued separate series of domestic currency and foreign exchange certificates (FEC) during this period, with FECs used in special shops and hotels for foreigners. The 1988 series was part of the first won monetary system (1947–1992), which was replaced during severe economic crisis. This mismatched pairing likely represents two different notes photographed together, not the front and back of a single note. The serial number '01 005351' on the back belongs to the 10 Won FEC.