Description and research notes
Perforated specimen of the 1968 one-dollar issue bearing the signature of D.L. Wilks, issued during the 1968-1975 period following the initial decimal introduction of 1967. Wilks succeeded Roderick Ninian Fleming, marking the continuation of New Zealand’s decimal currency system beyond its inaugural phase. Notes signed by Wilks therefore represent the stabilization period of early decimal production.
Unlike the overprint presentation type, this piece carries the legend 'SPECIMEN OF NO VALUE' perforated across the design, with no red diagonal overprint, no De La Rue oval control stamps, and no punch-hole cancellation. Perforated specimens were retained internally by Thomas De La Rue & Company for record and archival verification rather than prepared for external distribution. Their survival rate is limited, as most were withdrawn or destroyed once production advanced into later signature periods.
The one-dollar denomination formed the base unit of New Zealand’s decimal currency, replacing the ten-shilling note and serving as the primary instrument of everyday circulation. The design features Queen Elizabeth II in engraved portrait form, with the Captain James Cook watermark embedded within the paper, maintaining continuity with the visual identity established at the introduction of decimalization.
Serial 5J000000 represents a controlled specimen serial format rather than a circulation issue, further confirming its role as a reference piece within the production system.
Graded PCGS 66 PPQ Gem New, the note retains full originality, strong embossing, and sharp printed detail. The perforated cancellation remains clearly defined across the design, preserving the technical character of this internal specimen format within the early Wilks period.