Scott No: -
Serial number: 2012-2
Values in set: 2
Date of issue: February 5, 2011
Denomination: 270 fen
Designer: Shen Jiahuong, Li Qun
Size of stamps: 50 * 30 mm
Perforation: 13
Sheet composition: 12
Size of sheet: 190 * 170 mm
Printing process: Photogravure
Printing House: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing Works

On February 5, 2012, China Post issued the special stamp set "Bank of China" with catalog number 2012-2, commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Bank of China. The set consists of two stamps: (2-1) "Century-Old Bank of China," with a face value of 1.20 yuan, and (2-2) "Global Service," with a face value of 1.50 yuan, for a total face value of 2.70 yuan. The stamps were designed by Shen Jiahong and Li Qun, with photography by Li Qun, edited by Dong Yan, and printed by Beijing Stamp Printing Works. Multiple anti-counterfeiting features were employed, including anti-counterfeiting paper, anti-counterfeiting ink, shaped perforations, and fluorescent spray codes.

The Bank of China officially opened in Shanghai on February 5, 1912, with the approval of Dr. Sun Yat-sen. Its predecessor was the Great Qing Bank (Da Qing Bank). In the early Republic of China period, it functioned as the central bank. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, it was designated as the state's specialized foreign exchange and foreign trade bank, responsible for international trade and foreign exchange transactions. The year 2012 marked the Bank's centennial, and this was the first time China Post issued a special stamp for a century-old large financial institution. Concurrent with the stamp issuance, Hong Kong and Macau issued commemorative banknotes for the Bank of China's centenary, and the People's Bank of China issued a commemorative gold and silver coin set featuring the Bank of China emblem. The simultaneous release of stamps, banknotes, and commemorative coins in three regions made it a highly influential event in both China's financial and philatelic history.

The first stamp, "Century-Old Bank of China," features the historic former Bank of China building at 3 Hankou Road, Shanghai, built during the Republic of China era. The left side of the design incorporates the original 1912 announcement of the Bank of China's establishment, while the right side features an early Nanjing banknote issued by the Bank of China, tracing the origins of the bank and commemorating its century-long financial legacy, representing the beginnings of modern Chinese finance.

The second stamp, "Global Service," features the Bank of China Headquarters building in Beijing's Fuxingmen area as the main image. The background incorporates motifs of Hong Kong's 100-dollar banknote and Macau's 100-pataca banknote, reflecting the Bank's global presence and highlighting its special status as a note-issuing bank in Hong Kong and Macau. The face value of 1.50 yuan corresponded to the postage rate for surface mail to Hong Kong and Macau at the time, blending practicality with thematic expression.

The design incorporates decorative elements such as banknote underprints and ancient coins, with a color palette inspired by traditional currency. The strong financial motif has earned this stamp set widespread attention, with many collectors commenting that it is the stamp that most resembles a banknote. Among China's five major state-owned commercial banks, the Bank of China is the only one to have received a dedicated special commemorative stamp, making this set an important collectible for finance-themed philately.