Description and research notes
Specimen of the 30 Lire issue from the Credito Agricolo della Cassa di Risparmio in Bologna, produced by Bradbury, Wilkinson & Company during the critical early phase of post-unification Italian financial restructuring. The denomination itself—30 Lire—is highly unconventional and appears directly tied to structured agricultural credit mechanisms rather than standard monetary circulation, reflecting targeted rural financing systems implemented in newly unified Italy.
Credito Agricolo institutions operated as specialized credit channels designed to stabilize agricultural production and extend liquidity to rural sectors, where fragmented coinage systems and inconsistent monetary supply remained a persistent issue. Notes of this type were not intended for broad commercial exchange but instead functioned within controlled issuance frameworks, often tied to specific lending agreements, redemption structures, or cooperative credit systems.
The design reflects the highest level of nineteenth century security engraving, with dense guilloche frameworks, a central portrait medallion, and a refined blue underprint panel integrated into the main composition. Bradbury Wilkinson’s involvement places this piece within the early expansion of British security printing influence into continental European financial systems, particularly in transitional economies seeking both credibility and technical sophistication.
The left-hand section of the instrument serves as an issuance and administrative panel, incorporating emission, series, and serial fields. This structure confirms the note’s intended use within a tightly controlled credit environment, where each instrument would be individually recorded and validated at the point of release. The integration of administrative and engraved sections on a single instrument provides direct insight into the operational mechanics of agricultural credit distribution in late nineteenth century Italy.
As a specimen, this piece represents a pre-circulation state, typically produced for internal approval, institutional reference, or regulatory presentation. Its status is exceptional: serial No. 0001, marking it as the very first pull, likely prepared for board-level approval or formal presentation purposes.
No issued examples have been confirmed in the market or institutional records, and this specimen stands as the only known surviving example of the type, making it a cornerstone reference for the series.
Graded PMG 63 Choice Uncirculated and designated Top Pop, this note combines first-number pedigree, unique survival status, and institutional importance. It represents a foundational artifact of Italy’s early cooperative and agricultural credit systems, directly tied to the financial infrastructure that later evolved into the nationwide Credito Cooperativo network.