Description and research notes
The 1975 ten-dollar specimen belongs to the third signature phase of New Zealand’s decimal currency system and carries the signature of R.L. Knight as Chief Cashier, issued within the 1975-1977 production period. Knight’s tenure represents a mature stage of the decimal series, following the earlier Fleming and Wilks periods, where production standards and distribution formats had become fully standardized.
Printed by Thomas De La Rue & Company, London, this specimen follows the established external presentation format used for institutional distribution. It displays a bold red diagonal 'SPECIMEN' overprint, accompanied by two De La Rue oval control stamps and a single punch-hole cancellation. The note carries Serial 15Y0000000 and is marked as Specimen No. 019, confirming its placement within the controlled specimen allocation sequence prepared for official reference and distribution.
The design retains the defining elements of the first decimal series, featuring Queen Elizabeth II in engraved portrait form on the obverse and the New Zealand falcon in flight on the reverse, set against a mountainous landscape. The Captain James Cook watermark remains embedded within the paper, reinforcing continuity between New Zealand’s historical narrative and its modern currency system. The ten-dollar denomination occupied an important position within higher-value circulation, bridging everyday use and larger transactions.
As a Knight-signed specimen from the 1975-1977 issue, this note reflects a fully developed stage of New Zealand’s decimal currency system. The presence of the complete De La Rue specimen format—overprint, dual oval stamps, and punch cancellation—confirms its role as a formal presentation piece prepared for institutional distribution rather than an internally retained perforated specimen.
Graded PMG 67 EPQ Superb Gem Uncirculated, the note exhibits exceptional paper originality, strong embossing, and outstanding color fidelity. The sharp overprint, clearly defined oval control stamps, and intact punch cancellation together present a technically complete and visually superior specimen from the Knight signature period.