South Vietnam 500 Dong 1972 Pick 33 UNC Banknote
The South Vietnam 500 Dong 1972 Pick 33 is one of the most visually distinctive banknotes issued by the former Republic of Vietnam.
Produced during the final years of South Vietnam, the note combines political symbolism with wildlife imagery. The Independence Palace in Saigon dominates the obverse, while a powerful tiger standing in a forest landscape appears on the reverse.
With its attractive orange and olive-brown colouring and large 152 × 76 mm format, the P-33 is an impressive example of Southeast Asian paper money from the Vietnam War era.
Historical Background
The banknote was issued in 1972, during the Second Republic of Vietnam (1967–1975), only three years before the fall of Saigon and the end of South Vietnam.
At the time, Nguyễn Văn Thiệu was President of South Vietnam. The country’s currency was issued by the National Bank of Vietnam (Ngân-Hàng Quốc-Gia Việt-Nam).
The 500 Dong note therefore belongs to the final period of South Vietnamese currency. Following the collapse of the Republic of Vietnam in 1975, its currency ceased to circulate, transforming these notes into historical artefacts of a state that no longer exists.
Technical Specifications
- Country: South Vietnam
- Denomination: 500 Dong
- Year: 1972
- Pick Number: P-33
- Condition: Uncirculated (UNC)
- Issuer: National Bank of Vietnam
- Currency: South Vietnamese Dong
- Material: Paper
- Dimensions: 152 × 76 mm
- Dominant Colours: Orange and olive-brown with multicolour underprint
- Period: Second Republic of Vietnam
- Type: Standard circulation banknote
- Status: Demonetized
Obverse
The obverse features:
- Independence Palace in Saigon
- National Bank of Vietnam inscriptions
- 500 Dong denomination
- Ornamental guilloche patterns
- Serial numbers
- Official signatures
The Independence Palace (Dinh Độc Lập) was the presidential residence and administrative centre of South Vietnam. It became one of the defining symbols of the end of the Vietnam War when North Vietnamese forces entered its grounds on 30 April 1975.
Today the building is generally known as the Reunification Palace and remains one of Ho Chi Minh City’s best-known historic landmarks.
Reverse
The reverse depicts:
- Indochinese tiger
- Forest vegetation
- Large denomination numerals
- National Bank of Vietnam inscriptions
- Anti-counterfeiting warning
The tiger gives the P-33 one of the most memorable wildlife designs among South Vietnamese banknotes.
Security Features
The 500 Dong incorporates traditional banknote security features including:
- Portrait watermark of Madame Nguyễn Thị Mai Anh, wife of President Nguyễn Văn Thiệu
- Embedded security thread
- Detailed guilloche patterns
- Fine-line engraving
- Serial numbering
- Complex multicolour underprint
The portrait watermark is particularly interesting because it depicts the wife of South Vietnam’s final president rather than the president himself.
Why Add This Banknote to Your Collection?
The South Vietnam 500 Dong 1972 Pick 33 UNC banknote combines numismatic appeal with an extraordinary historical context. Issued only a few years before South Vietnam ceased to exist, it is a tangible piece of the country’s final chapter.
It is particularly attractive for collectors of Vietnam War memorabilia, South Vietnamese currency, Southeast Asian banknotes, tiger-themed banknotes, historical states and UNC world paper money.
Collector’s Note
The Pick 33 is especially popular because of its dramatic pairing of two very different subjects: the Independence Palace, representing the South Vietnamese state, and the Indochinese tiger, representing the region’s natural heritage.
Another distinctive feature is its watermark depicting Madame Nguyễn Thị Mai Anh, wife of President Nguyễn Văn Thiệu. Combined with the note’s 1972 issue date, this makes P-33 closely connected to the final political era of the Republic of Vietnam.
For a complete 1972 South Vietnam set, collectors can pair the P-33 with the 50 Dong P-30, 100 Dong P-31 and 200 Dong P-32 issues.
