Description and research notes
Official overprint specimen of the 1985–89 100 Dollars note signed by S.T. Russell as Chief Cashier, printed by Bradbury Wilkinson & Company for the Reserve Bank of New Zealand. The note bears black 'SPECIMEN' overprints at center and right, a red De La Rue oval stamp at lower left reading 'SPECIMEN DE LA RUE & CO LTD NO VALUE', and serial number YAC000000 004.
This late Bradbury Wilkinson issue was the final paper hundred to carry Queen Elizabeth II before the polymer transition. Its fine intaglio engraving, multitone guilloche, and deeply layered crimson palette illustrate the technical precision of BWC’s mid-1980s work. Overprint specimens such as this were circulated by De La Rue to central banks and institutional archives for reference use.
PMG 58 Choice About Uncirculated, with deep color and minor handling only. A distinct Russell-signed variant that closes the paper Queen Elizabeth II lineage and precedes the Rutherford design.