Collection PL

About
1994.pl

Luxembourg’s paper-money sits inside the Belgian–Luxembourg monetary union (BLEU) yet keeps a distinctly national look. From the 1960s through the early 1980s, the visual language—fine lathework, tight guilloches, restrained pastels—was shaped by Bradbury, Wilkinson & Co. and De La Rue. The cleanest record of that craft isn’t in pocket-worn notes but in the photographic proofs, printer’s proofs and specimens that escaped the printers’ archives.

This page anchors two connected chapters. First, the 1970 100 Francs (Grand Duke Jean): we show face & back photographic proofs, a rare gridline specimen used for plate alignment at De La Rue, a color-trial, a specimen, and the issued note—an end-to-end view of how BLEU-era design moved from studio film to press. Second, the unissued 1982 high denominations (500 & 1000 Francs) prepared by BWC: created as a contingency during the 1982 devaluation shock, fully proofed and color-tested, then shelved when policy stabilized and the Institut Monétaire Luxembourgeois (1983) re-anchored joint issuance. Because circulation never happened, proofs and SPECIMENs are the only witnesses—rare, high-grade survivors that document a national series “ready to print” but never released. Use the filters above to pivot by type, printer or year; card-level text ties each piece back to this story so the set reads as one coherent chapter.

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Luxembourg 1982 1000 Francs specimen serial A000000 094 with red diagonal SPECIMEN overprint and two punch holes, Pick 52bs, PMG 67 EPQ Superb Gem Uncirculated

Luxembourg 1982 - 1000 Francs Specimen Grand Duchess Charlotte (Pick 52bs)

The issue itself originates from Luxembourg’s contingency planning during instability within the Belgian Luxembourg Economic Union in the early 1980s. In response to concerns over currency supply control, Luxembourg prepared an independent note series to ensure domestic liquidity if required. Although fully developed at the production level, the notes were never released, leaving surviving specimens as the only direct evidence of this unrealized sovereign issue. Read more →

LuxembourgSpecimen19821000 FrancsPMG 67 EPQ Superb Gem Uncirculated Specimen1000 FrancsRed SPECIMEN overprintDiagonal SPECIMENTwo Punch HolesPunch CancelledA000000 094Specimen Serial FormatGrand Duchess CharlotteLuxembourg banknote designIntaglio engravingGuilloche security patternBradbury WilkinsonBWCLuxembourg monetary systemBelgian Luxembourg Economic UnionUnissued contingency issueHistoryLuxembourg1982Pick 52bsPick 52bPMG 67 EPQSuperb Gem UncirculatedTop PopMuseum Grade
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Luxembourg 1982 1000 Francs color trial specimen serial A000000 13 with red diagonal SPECIMEN overprint and single punch hole, Pick 52bcts, PMG 66 EPQ Gem Uncirculated

Luxembourg 1982 - 1000 Francs Color Trial Specimen Grand Duchess Charlotte (Pick 52bcts)

The note remains in Gem Uncirculated condition with exceptional paper quality, preserving sharp printing detail, original color balance, and full clarity of the trial characteristics. Read more →

LuxembourgColor Trial Specimen19821000 FrancsPMG 66 EPQ Gem Uncirculated Color Trial SpecimenColor Trial1000 FrancsRed SPECIMEN overprintDiagonal SPECIMENSingle Punch HolePunch CancelledA000000 13Specimen Serial FormatGrand Duchess CharlotteLuxembourg banknote designIntaglio engravingColor variation testingGuilloche security patternBradbury WilkinsonBWCLuxembourg monetary systemBelgian Luxembourg Economic UnionUnissued contingency issueHistoryLuxembourg1982Pick 52bctsPick 52bPMG 66 EPQGem UncirculatedMuseum Grade
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Luxembourg 1982 1000 Francs proof with no overprint or serials, Pick 52bp, PMG 55 EPQ About Uncirculated, Top Pop 1 of 1

Luxembourg 1982 - 1000 Francs Proof Grand Duchess Charlotte (Pick 52bp)

Graded PMG 55 EPQ About Uncirculated, this example is Top Population 1 of 1, with no other graded examples recorded. As the sole certified proof of the highest denomination in an unissued national series, it represents a unique reference point within Luxembourg’s modern monetary history. Read more →

LuxembourgProof19821000 FrancsPMG 55 EPQ About Uncirculated Proof1000 FrancsTop Pop 1 of 1Top PopUnique Graded ExampleHighest DenominationGrand Duchess CharlotteLuxembourg banknote designIntaglio engravingGuilloche security patternBradbury WilkinsonBWCLuxembourg monetary systemBelgian Luxembourg Economic UnionUnissued contingency issueProduction reference stageHistoryLuxembourg1982Pick 52bpPick 52bPMG 55 EPQAbout UncirculatedMuseum GradeR9 Extremely Rare
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Luxembourg 1982 500 Francs specimen serial A000000 096 with red diagonal SPECIMEN overprint and two punch holes, Pick 52as, PMG 66 EPQ Gem Uncirculated

Luxembourg 1982 - 500 Francs Specimen Grand Duchess Charlotte (Pick 52as)

The note remains in Gem Uncirculated condition with exceptional paper quality, preserving strong embossing, sharp print detail, and full clarity of all specimen control elements. Read more →

LuxembourgSpecimen1982500 FrancsPMG 66 EPQ Gem Uncirculated Specimen500 FrancsRed SPECIMEN overprintDiagonal SPECIMENTwo Punch HolesPunch CancelledA000000 096Specimen Serial FormatGrand Duchess CharlotteLuxembourg banknote designIntaglio engravingGuilloche security patternBradbury WilkinsonBWCLuxembourg monetary systemBelgian Luxembourg Economic UnionUnissued contingency issueWorking denominationHistoryLuxembourg1982Pick 52asPick 52aPMG 66 EPQGem UncirculatedMuseum Grade
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Luxembourg 1982 500 Francs proof with no overprint or serials, Pick 52ap, PMG 66 EPQ Gem Uncirculated, Top Pop 1 of 1

Luxembourg 1982 - 500 Francs Proof Grand Duchess Charlotte (Pick 52ap)

Plate proof of the 1982 five hundred francs issue of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, representing the finalized engraving stage prior to specimen marking, color testing, or production handling. As the primary working denomination within the intended series, the 500 Francs proof defines the practical structure of the design before any production-layer modifications were introduced. Read more →

LuxembourgProof1982500 FrancsPMG 66 EPQ Gem Uncirculated Proof500 FrancsTop Pop 1 of 1Unique Graded ExampleCore DenominationGrand Duchess CharlotteLuxembourg banknote designIntaglio engravingGuilloche security patternBradbury WilkinsonBWCLuxembourg monetary systemBelgian Luxembourg Economic UnionUnissued contingency issueProduction reference stageHistoryLuxembourg1982Pick 52apPick 52aPMG 66 EPQGem UncirculatedMuseum GradeR9 Extremely Rare
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Luxembourg 1970 100 Francs calibration specimen serial D170001 with blue registration gridlines and handwritten printer annotation, Pick 56s

Luxembourg 1970 - 100 Francs Archival Gridlines Calibration Specimen Serial D170001 (Pick 56s)

Surviving calibration specimens of this type are extremely scarce, as they were never intended for retention outside internal use. The combination of live serial D170001, preserved gridline system, and dated annotation establishes this piece as a direct artifact of the manufacturing process rather than a conventional specimen, making it one of the most technically informative examples within the 1970 Luxembourg series. Read more →

LuxembourgSpecimen1970100 FrancsPMG 65 EPQ Gem Uncirculated Specimen100 FrancsD170001Live SerialCalibration SheetGridlinesRegistration GridPrinter AnnotationHandwritten AnnotationGrand Duke JeanLuxembourg banknote designGuilloche security patternProduction calibrationPre-production controlThomas De La RueDe La RueTDLRLuxembourg monetary systemBelgian Luxembourg Economic UnionProduction workflowHistoryLuxembourg1970Pick 56sPick 56aPMG 65 EPQGem UncirculatedMuseum GradeAnnotationsHandwritten Annotations
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Luxembourg 20 March 1970 100 Francs face photographic proof with serial A000000 mounted on archival cardstock, Grand Duke Jean portrait

Luxembourg 20 March 1970 - 100 Francs Face Photographic Proof Grand Duke Jean (Pick Unlisted)

Surviving photographic proofs of this type are scarce, as their utilitarian purpose did not favor long-term preservation. As a complete face proof with full serial format, mounted archival presentation, and confirmed production date, this example stands as a precise record of the design approval stage within Luxembourg’s twentieth-century banknote development. Read more →

LuxembourgPhotographic Proof (Face)1970100 FrancsPCGS 63 Choice New (Mounted on Cardstock) Photographic ProofFace Proof100 FrancsA000000Dual Serial FormatMounted CardstockArchival ProofGrand Duke JeanLuxembourg banknote designGuilloche security patternLayout approval stageLuxembourg monetary systemBelgian Luxembourg Economic Union1970 issueHistoryLuxembourg1970Pick UnlistedPick 56aPCGS 63Choice NewMuseum Grade
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Luxembourg 24 February 1970 100 Francs back photographic proof mounted on cardstock with handwritten date annotation and full cityscape design

Luxembourg 24 February 1970 - 100 Francs Back Photographic Proof (Pick Unlisted)

Back-side photographic proof of the 1970 one hundred francs issue of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, produced during the final design validation stage prior to full printing. The image is presented in monochrome and mounted on archival cardstock, preserving the complete reverse composition without color separation. Read more →

LuxembourgPhotographic Proof (Back)1970100 FrancsPCGS 64 Apparent (Mounted on Cardstock) Photographic ProofBack Proof100 FrancsMounted CardstockArchival ProofDated AnnotationLuxembourg cityscapeReverse designLayout approval stageGuilloche borderLuxembourg monetary systemBelgian Luxembourg Economic Union1970 issueHistoryLuxembourg1970Pick UnlistedPick 56aPCGS 64Very Choice NewMuseum GradeAnnotationsHandwritten Annotations
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Luxembourg 1970 100 Francs specimen Pick 56s with SPECIMEN overprint, punch hole cancellation, and serial A000000

Luxembourg 1970 - 100 Francs Specimen (Pick 56s)

This specimen reflects the finalized and fully issued design, distinguishing it from earlier photographic proofs and gridline specimens used during development. It represents the completed production state of the note, incorporating all security, layout, and denomination elements as intended for circulation. Read more →

LuxembourgSpecimen1970100 FrancsPMG 66 EPQ Gem Uncirculated Specimen100 FrancsA000000Dual Serial FormatSPECIMEN OverprintPunch Hole CancellationGrand Duke JeanGuilloche security patternOffset and intaglio combinationIssued design typeLuxembourg monetary systemBelgian Luxembourg Economic Union1970 issueHistoryLuxembourg1970Pick 56sPick 56aPMG 66 EPQGem UncirculatedMuseum Grade
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Luxembourg 1970 100 Francs color trial specimen serial A000000 33 with diagonal red SPECIMEN overprint and two punch holes, Pick 56cts, PMG 58 EPQ Choice About Uncirculated

Luxembourg 1970 - 100 Francs Color Trial Specimen (Pick 56cts)

Surviving color trial specimens are limited, as they were not intended for distribution and were typically retained only within printing archives. This example, combining alternative palette, specimen serial format, overprint, and punch cancellation, represents a complete and well-preserved record of the color testing stage within the 1970 Luxembourg issue. Read more →

LuxembourgColor Trial Specimen1970100 FrancsPMG 58 EPQ Choice About Uncirculated SpecimenColor Trial SpecimenColor TrialAlternative ColorBlue Color TrialDiagonal SPECIMEN overprintRed SPECIMENTwo Punch HolesPunch CancelledA000000 33Specimen Serial Format100 FrancsGrand Duke Jean portraitLuxembourg banknote designWatermark portraitIntaglio engravingSecurity printing featuresLuxembourg Belgium monetary unionEuropean currency systemBanknote development processColor differentiation testingHistoryLuxembourg1970Pick 56ctsPick 56aPMG 58 EPQChoice About UncirculatedMuseum Grade
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Luxembourg 1970 100 Francs issued note serial A143655, Pick 56a, PMG 65 EPQ Gem Uncirculated

Luxembourg 1970 - 100 Francs Issued Note (Pick 56a)

During the BLEU period, Luxembourg maintained its own engraving, layout identity, and production standards while circulating alongside Belgian issues at full parity. This note demonstrates that capability in its completed form, preserving national iconography without compromise in technical quality or operational performance. Read more →

LuxembourgIssued Note1970100 FrancsPMG 65 EPQ Gem Uncirculated Issued Note100 FrancsLuxembourg1970Pick 56aGrand Duke JeanIntaglio engravingGuilloche security patternWatermark portraitHigh cotton paperBelgian Luxembourg Economic UnionCirculating currencyFinal production stageBanknote executionHistoryLuxembourg1970Pick 56aPMG 65 EPQGem UncirculatedMuseum Grade
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Luxembourg 100 Francs back photographic proof showing early composition study of bridge motif, mounted on cardstock, Pick Unlisted, PCGS 63 Choice New

Luxembourg Undated - 100 Francs Back Photographic Proof, Composition Study (Pick Unlisted)

Printed in monochrome, the proof isolates tonal hierarchy and structural relationships, allowing evaluation of foreground detail, architectural depth, and surrounding ornament without the influence of color. Denomination placement and border geometry are already established, indicating a late-stage layout study approaching finalization. Read more →

LuxembourgPhotographic Proof (Back)1970100 FrancsPCGS 63 Choice New (Mounted on Cardstock) Photographic ProofBack100 FrancsPick UnlistedComposition StudyEarly Layout StageDesign EvolutionBridge MotifPre-engraving stageArchival photographic proofLuxembourg monetary history1970 series developmentBanknote design processHistoryLuxembourg1970Pick UnlistedPCGS 63Choice NewMounted on CardstockMuseum Grade
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