Description and research notes
Issued 10 Shillings note from the Reserve Bank of New Zealand, dated 1 August 1934 — the first denomination released under the Reserve Bank Act of 1933.
Printed by Thomas De La Rue & Co., London, the note features the kiwi bird vignette at left, the national coat of arms at center, and the portrait of a Maori warrior with full moko at right. Watermark: bank title in vertical alignment. This design established the national currency imagery that endured until decimalization.
Catalogued as Pick 154, it represents New Zealand’s earliest official Reserve Bank paper issue. PMG census lists 87 issued notes, making survivors scarce in collectible condition. Paired with the 1934 photographic proof (Pick 154p) for comparative study, this example illustrates the transition from engraved concept to circulating currency.