Collection PL

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Ireland’s paper-money story spans private banks, state consolidation and—north of the border—a continuing tradition of sterling notes issued by commercial banks. In the early 20th century, firms such as Waterlow & Sons engraved allegories, crests and carefully set type for regional issuers. Circulated survivors are scarce and tired; proofs and specimens preserve the plate exactly as intended, margins and imprints included.

A 1920 Ulster Bank £1 Waterlow proof sits at that hinge between the private-bank era and later centralization. Much later, in Northern Ireland, the landscape was defined by commercial sterling notes from banks such as Northern Bank. The December 2004 Northern Bank robbery prompted the withdrawal of existing notes and a full redesign in 2005; related 2004 £50 SPECIMEN pieces with De La Rue overprints and “NO VALUE” ovals survive as unissued plate-true documentation.

Together these archival items connect printer lineage (Waterlow, De La Rue), regional banking practice and modern security printing under a sterling regime. Use the filters above to pivot by type or year as this section expands—linking private-bank proofs with contemporary Northern Ireland specimens without repeating card-level descriptions.

9 results · Page 1 of 1
Ireland 1920 Ulster Bank £1 proof, PMG 64

Ireland 1920 — Ulster Bank Ltd. £1 (Proof)

Archival proof for Ulster Bank Ltd., dated 1920. Printed by Waterlow & Sons, London, the note displays finely executed allegories and maritime motifs, reflecting both classical design and national symbolism in the early 20th century. The Waterlow imprint remains visible in the margin, a hallmark of genuine proofs. ... Read more →

IrelandProof19201 PoundPMG 64 Proof1 PoundUlster BankWaterlow & SonsIrish Private BankPMG 64Ireland1920
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2004 Northern Bank £50 Specimen, Pick Unlisted NR126, PMG 63

Ireland — Northern 2004 — Northern Bank £50 Specimen (Pick Unlisted NR126)

Specimen of the 2004 Northern Bank £50, printed by De La Rue for Northern Bank Limited, Belfast. This pre-issue design was the last note prepared before the bank’s December 2004 robbery, the largest cash theft in UK history. The note carries the red SPECIMEN overprint and the oval NO VALUE control stamps, serial DA000000 001, and watermark of Sir Samuel C. ... Read more →

IrelandSpecimen with Red Overprint & Oval Stamp200450 PoundsPMG 63 Choice Uncirculated Pick UnlistedNR126Northern BankDe La RueSpecimenRed OverprintUnissued NoteSterling50 PoundsNorthern Ireland2004 RobberyIreland2004
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2005 Northern Bank £50 Specimen with red SPECIMEN overprint, PMG 65 EPQ

Ireland — Northern 2005 — Northern Bank £50 Specimen (Pick 208s NR131)

Specimen of the redesigned 2005 Northern Bank £50, printed by Thomas De La Rue and issued under the new Northern Bank Limited branding after the December 2004 robbery. Serial JB000000, watermark Sir Samuel Davidson, and bold red SPECIMEN overprint across the face. This version was part of the printer’s formal reference and approval series prepared for bank and regulator use. ... Read more →

IrelandSpecimen200550 PoundsPMG 65 EPQ Gem Uncirculated Pick 208sNR131Northern BankDe La RueSpecimenOverprintSterling50 PoundsNorthern Ireland2005 ReissueIreland2005
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2005 Northern Bank £50 issued note, serial JB340616, printed by De La Rue, Belfast

Ireland — Northern 2005 — Northern Bank £50 Issued Note (Pick 208 NR131)

Circulation version of the 2005 Northern Bank £50, printed by Thomas De La Rue for Northern Bank Limited, Belfast. Serial range JB000001 onward, watermark Sir Samuel C. Davidson, printer imprint TDLR. ... Read more →

IrelandIssued Note200550 PoundsRaw (UNC est.) Pick 208NR131Northern BankDe La RueIssued NoteSterling50 PoundsNorthern Ireland2005 ReissueIreland2005
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2005 Northern Bank £50 replacement note, prefix YY001940, printed by De La Rue after 2004 robbery recall

Ireland — Northern 2005 — Northern Bank £50 Replacement Prefix YY (Pick 208)

Replacement note for the 2005 Northern Bank £50 issue, printed by Thomas De La Rue, bearing the distinct 'YY' prefix used exclusively for replacement sheets following the 2004 Belfast vault robbery. These notes were part of the emergency replacement program that saw all pre-robbery stock withdrawn and destroyed, with new serial ranges produced under enhanced security oversight. Featuring the portrait of Sir Samuel Cleland Davidson (1846–1921), inventor and industrialist, the design celebrates Northern Ireland’s engineering legacy. ... Read more →

IrelandReplacement Note200550 PoundsRaw (UNC est.) ReplacementPick 208Northern BankDe La RueSterlingNorthern Ireland2005 ReissueIreland50 PoundsPost-Robbery ReplacementYY Prefix
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Ireland Northern 1940 Northern Bank Limited £1 Pick 178b PMG 67 EPQ Superb Gem Uncirculated

Ireland 1940 — Northern Bank Limited £1 (Pick 178b)

Classic pre‑decimal £1 of Northern Bank Limited, Belfast, with the dramatic blue ONE counter across the center. Maritime and industrial vignettes reflect the bank’s Ulster customer base—shipping, linen, and engineering—and the note retains the ornate Victorian border language long favored by Northern Irish issuers. This is the black‑prefix and black‑serial variety recorded for 1940 within Pick 178b. ... Read more →

IrelandPrivate Bank Issue19401 PoundPMG 67 EPQ Superb Gem Uncirculated Northern BankNorthern IrelandIrelandPMG 67 EPQ1 Pound£11940Pick 178bBlack Prefix and SerialPrivate Bank IssueUlster
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Ireland Northern 1939 Belfast Banking Company Limited £1 Pick 126b PMG 58 Choice About Uncirculated

Ireland 1939–40 — Belfast Banking Company Limited £1 (Pick 126b, PMG 58 Choice About Uncirculated)

£1 note of the Belfast Banking Company Limited, dated 9 November 1939, with the arms of Belfast and the bank’s name in a sweeping banner. The face carries the finely engraved counters "ONE" in the corners and a blue value panel through the promise text—an eye‑catching security feature on this inter‑war design. Pick 126b identifies the late 1930s series with blue serials; this example is prefixed E/M, a style used by the bank to manage branches and print batches. ... Read more →

IrelandPrivate Bank Issue19391 PoundPMG 58 Choice About Uncirculated Belfast Banking CompanyNorthern IrelandIreland£11 Pound1939Pick 126bBlue SerialPrivate Bank IssueUlster
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Ireland 1977 Bank of Ireland £1 Specimen, Pick 247as PR101, PMG 64

Ireland — Northern 1977 — Bank of Ireland Limited £1 Specimen (Pick 247as PR101, TDLR, PMG 64 Choice Uncirculated)

Specimen £1 of the Bank of Ireland Limited, dated 1 January 1977 and printed by Thomas De La Rue. The obverse features the youthful portrait at right with a shield row and Celtic motifs along the base. SPECIMEN overprint and De La Rue oval handstamps appear at left and right, and the note bears the contemporary manager signature J. ... Read more →

IrelandSpecimen with Black Overprint & Oval Stamp19771 PoundPMG 64 Choice Uncirculated IrelandBank of Ireland£11 Pound1977Pick 247asTDLRSpecimenBlack OverprintNorthern Ireland
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Ireland 1968–72 Provincial Bank of Ireland £1 Specimen, Pick 245s PR99, PMG 58 EPQ

Ireland — Northern 1968–72 — Provincial Bank of Ireland Limited £1 Specimen (Pick 245s PR99, TDLR, PMG 58 EPQ Choice About Uncirculated)

De La Rue specimen of the Provincial Bank of Ireland £1, dated 1 January 1968. Classical head within a guilloche medallion at center, with the denomination framed by large sterling symbols. SPECIMEN diagonal overprint and De La Rue control ovals confirm its archival status, accompanied by a cancellation punch and specimen serial panel. ... Read more →

IrelandSpecimen with Black Overprint & Oval Stamp19681 PoundPMG 58 EPQ Choice About Uncirculated IrelandProvincial Bank of Ireland£11 Pound1968Pick 245sTDLRSpecimenBlack OverprintNorthern Ireland
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