Description and research notes
Large-format intaglio test piece produced by Komori Currency Technology on genuine banknote paper. The face presents a finely engraved portrait of Mr. Komori alongside dense Asiatic floral scrolls and security guilloché intended to demonstrate line fidelity, tonal build, and plate pressure control. Test notes of this class were never meant for circulation; they functioned as printer’s showpieces and training standards for press crews, plate checkers, and clients evaluating capability.
Paper and print: genuine banknote substrate with full-depth intaglio burr, even inking, and sharply defined micro-ornament in the floral fields. Oversized format underscores register accuracy and reveals any plate chatter, of which none is visible here.
Context: Komori’s dedicated currency division sits at the intersection of precision machinery and security printing know-how in Japan. Pieces like this document the house style and process discipline rather than any national issue.
Condition: PCGS 65 PPQ (Gem New) with problem-free paper and original paper quality noted, appropriate for a factory-retained exemplar.