The second series of Renminbi banknotes was introduced on March 1, 1955 (but dated 1953). Together with the introduction of the second series, the decimal point was moved 4 places to the left. As a result, one first series ¥10,000 note is equivalent to one second series ¥1 note.
Coins Obverse Reverse Value Technical parameters Description Date of Diameter Composition Edge Obverse Reverse year issue withdrawal ¥0.01 18 mm Aluminium-magnesium alloy Intermittent wire teeth Wheat, value, year of minting Emblem of the People's Republic of China 1955-2018 December 1, 1957 Current ¥0.02 21 mm 1956-2000 ¥0.05 24 mm 1955-2000
Though rarely used, coins of the 2nd series can still be used in the People's Republic of China.
Banknotes Each note has the words "People's Bank of China" as well as the denomination in Uyghur, Tibetan and Mongolian on the back. However, Zhuang was not included as the Zhuang alphabet had not been invented yet. Those four languages have all since appeared on each new series of renminbi banknotes.
The denominations available were:
2nd Series Banknotes (1955 Edition)ImageValueDimensionsMain colorDescriptionDate ofRemarkObverseReverseObverseReverseissuewithdrawalcompletely recalled¥0.0190 × 42.5 mmYellowZIS-150 / FAW Jiefang CA10 (built in China under license of ZiS) 4-Tonne TruckNational emblem of ChinaMarch 1, 1955July 1, 2003April 1, 2007With serial number and printed in China¥0.0295 × 45 mmBlueLisunov Li-2 (built in the Soviet Union under license of the Douglas DC-3)¥0.05100 × 47.5 mmGreenSteam ship Hailiao, came over to the Communists from Hong Kong under the blockade of the Nationalists.¥0.1115 × 52.5 mmYellow-brownTractorDecember 15, 1967January 1, 1999Printed in China¥0.2120 × 55 mmGreenLocomotiveNovember 15, 1971¥0.5125 × 57.5 mmPurpleDam¥1150 × 67.5 mmRedTiananmenOctober 20, 1969¥2155 × 70 mmBlueMount Baota in Yan'an, ShaanxiDecember 1976¥3160 × 72.5 mmGreenLongyuankou Bridge in Yongxin, JiangxiApril 15, 1964May 15, 1964Printed in Soviet Union¥5165 × 75 mmBrownUnity of races¥10210 × 85 mmBlue and blackLabor and farmerDecember 1, 1957
2nd Series Banknotes (1956 Edition)ImageValueDimensionsMain colorDescriptionDate ofRemarkObverseReverseObverseReverseissuewithdrawalcompletely recalled¥1150 × 67.5 mmBlackTiananmenNational emblem of ChinaMarch 25, 1961August 15, 1973January 1, 1999Printed in China¥5165 × 75 mmYellow-brownUnite of racesApril 20, 1962December 1, 1983
2nd Series Banknotes (1981 Edition)ImageValueDimensionsMain colorDescriptionDate ofRemarkObverseReverseObverseReverseissuewithdrawalcompletely recalled¥0.01 Same as 1955 edition notes, but without the serial number.July 14, 1981July 1, 2003April 1, 2007Without serial number and printed in China¥0.02¥0.05
Remark The ¥0.01, ¥0.02, and ¥0.05 notes of the 1981 edition can also be argued as members of the third series of the renminbi due to being first issued in 1981, when the third series of the renminbi was also being issued.
The ¥3, ¥5, and ¥10 notes of the 1955 edition were printed in the Soviet Union. As a result of the Sino-Soviet split, the Soviets started printing these banknotes as counterfeits as a part of economic warfare against China. Thus, such counterfeit notes were found in Xinjiang after several border conflicts. The use of the 1955 edition banknotes was halted on April 15, 1964, and they were completely withdrawn and recalled on May 15, 1964.
The second series of the renminbi is the only series of the renminbi to include a ¥3 banknote.
Except for the ¥0.01, ¥0.02, ¥0.05, ¥3, ¥5, and ¥10 banknotes of the 1955 edition, all banknotes were completely recalled on January 1, 1999. The use of the ¥0.01, ¥0.02, and ¥0.05 banknotes of the 1955 edition was halted on July 1, 2003, and they were completely withdrawn and recalled on April 1, 2007.
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