Banknote seal (China)

A Ming Dynasty banknote with two seal stamps in the centre.

Qing Dynasty banknotes. In the centre of the left note is the Seal of Cash of the Great Qing (大清宝钞之印).

The economy of China during the Song dynasty outpaced the supply of traditional coinage, leading the government to issue banknotes (Jiaozi (交子)) to increase the money supply. Subsequently, a government department was created to manage cash affairs, with its responsibilities including producing and issuing cash, and combating counterfeiting. The cash seal was developed as an anti-counterfeiting measure; official banknotes received a red, sometimes black or purple, stamp at their centres. This forced counterfeiters to attempt to replicate the seal, presumably leading to distinguishable lower quality stamps. Severe punishments, including the death penalty, were given counterfeiters.

The Ming[1] also Qing dynasties also stamped banknotes. The Ming government department responsible for cash affairs and the use of the cash seal was the Baochao Bureau (simplified Chinese: 宝钞局; traditional Chinese: 寳鈔局; pinyin: Baochao Ju).[2]

The use of cash seals is no longer restricted to governments. Seals or private individuals and organizations may be used in the same manner on private banknotes to represent the parties' trust, credit, or authority.

In the era of the Republic of China, these seal stamps could also be called Yinhang Yin (銀行印/银行印; direct translation: the seal stamp of bank, or just "bank seal").

In Japan, ginkō-in (Japanese: 銀行印) seals have similar functions.

In late imperial China:

• 大明寳鈔之印 / 大明宝钞之印 (traditional/simplified Chinese); The Seal of Cash of the Great Ming.
• 大清寳鈔之印 / 大清宝钞之印; The Seal of Cash of the Great Qing.

• Seal (East Asia)
• Banknote
• Cash
• Economy of the Song Dynasty

• The anti-counterfeiting techniques of Ming Dynasty cash