Collection — Specimens, Proofs & Issued Banknotes

Brazil 1000 Cruzeiros 1963 specimen P181s TDLR

Brazil 1963 - 1000 Cruzeiros Specimen, (Pick 181s)

Specimen of the 1000 Cruzeiros printed by Thomas De La Rue & Company, London, bearing red SPECIMEN overprint, punch cancellations, and De La Rue’s oval control marks. The note is labeled Estampa 2A / Série 791A with zero serials, confirming its archival or approval status rather than an issued piece. Read more →

BrazilSpecimen with Red Overprint & Oval Stamp19631000 CruzeirosPMG 64 Choice Uncirculated Pick 181sPick 181aSpecimenRed OverprintTDLREstampa 2ABrazil19631000 Cruzeiros

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Brazil 5 Cruzeiros 1963 specimen P176bs TDLR

Brazil 1963 - 5 Cruzeiros Specimen (Pick 176bs)

High-grade specimens like this are more than collector showpieces; they preserve the transitional phase between outsourced design and Brazil’s eventual in-house engraving initiatives. The Top Pop designation underlines its status as the finest known certified example, representing De La Rue’s balance between industrial precision and artistry at the close of the Cruzeiro’s first epoch. Read more →

BrazilSpecimen with Red Overprint & Oval Stamp19635 CruzeirosPMG 67 EPQ (Superb Gem, Top Pop) Pick 176bsPick 176bPMG 67 EPQSpecimenRed OverprintTDLRTop PopBrazil19635 Cruzeiros

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Brazil 100 Cruzeiros 1963 specimen P180s TDLR

Brazil 1963 - 100 Cruzeiros Specimen (Pick 180s)

Specimens were integral to De La Rue’s quality-control and marketing practices, distributed to client archives and central banks to showcase technical competence. Surviving examples such as this provide a direct visual record of Brazil’s partnership with British printers during one of the most active decades in its numismatic history, preceding the revaluation that replaced the Cruzeiro in 1967. Read more →

BrazilSpecimen with Red Overprint & Oval Stamp1963100 CruzeirosPMG 63 Choice Uncirculated Pick 180sPick 180aSpecimenRed OverprintTDLREstampa 2ABrazil1963100 Cruzeiros

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Luxembourg 1982 1000 Francs specimen serial A000000 094 with red diagonal SPECIMEN overprint and two punch holes, Pick 52bs, PMG 67 EPQ Superb Gem Uncirculated

Luxembourg 1982 - 1000 Francs Specimen Grand Duchess Charlotte (Pick 52bs)

Specimen of the 1982 one thousand francs issue of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, representing the highest denomination prepared within this short-lived contingency series featuring Grand Duchess Charlotte. As the apex denomination, the 1000 Francs defines the full technical and visual ambition of the issue, combining the most complex engraving, the highest value tier, and the most advanced security layout of the set. Read more →

LuxembourgSpecimen19821000 FrancsPMG 67 EPQ Superb Gem Uncirculated Specimen1000 FrancsRed SPECIMEN overprintDiagonal SPECIMENTwo Punch HolesPunch CancelledA000000 094Specimen Serial FormatGrand Duchess CharlotteLuxembourg banknote designIntaglio engravingGuilloche security patternBradbury WilkinsonBWCLuxembourg monetary systemBelgian Luxembourg Economic UnionUnissued contingency issueHistoryLuxembourg1982Pick 52bsPick 52bPMG 67 EPQSuperb Gem UncirculatedTop PopMuseum Grade

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Luxembourg 1982 1000 Francs color trial specimen serial A000000 13 with red diagonal SPECIMEN overprint and single punch hole, Pick 52bcts, PMG 66 EPQ Gem Uncirculated

Luxembourg 1982 - 1000 Francs Color Trial Specimen Grand Duchess Charlotte (Pick 52bcts)

Within the full reconstruction of this unrealized issue, the color trial occupies a distinct position. The issued-format specimen defines the finalized structure, while the color trial reveals the experimental pathway that led to it. Together, they form a complete record of both design intent and production execution. Read more →

LuxembourgColor Trial Specimen19821000 FrancsPMG 66 EPQ Gem Uncirculated Color Trial SpecimenColor Trial1000 FrancsRed SPECIMEN overprintDiagonal SPECIMENSingle Punch HolePunch CancelledA000000 13Specimen Serial FormatGrand Duchess CharlotteLuxembourg banknote designIntaglio engravingColor variation testingGuilloche security patternBradbury WilkinsonBWCLuxembourg monetary systemBelgian Luxembourg Economic UnionUnissued contingency issueHistoryLuxembourg1982Pick 52bctsPick 52bPMG 66 EPQGem UncirculatedMuseum Grade

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Luxembourg 1982 1000 Francs proof with no overprint or serials, Pick 52bp, PMG 55 EPQ About Uncirculated, Top Pop 1 of 1

Luxembourg 1982 - 1000 Francs Proof Grand Duchess Charlotte (Pick 52bp)

Printed by Bradbury, Wilkinson & Company, Limited, the note displays the full intaglio structure exactly as prepared for final production. The portrait of Grand Duchess Charlotte is rendered in sharp, uninterrupted engraving, surrounded by precise guilloche architecture and balanced ornamental framing. At this stage, the design exists as a controlled reference standard, used to verify engraving accuracy, layout integrity, and readiness for subsequent production phases. Read more →

LuxembourgProof19821000 FrancsPMG 55 EPQ About Uncirculated Proof1000 FrancsTop Pop 1 of 1Top PopUnique Graded ExampleHighest DenominationGrand Duchess CharlotteLuxembourg banknote designIntaglio engravingGuilloche security patternBradbury WilkinsonBWCLuxembourg monetary systemBelgian Luxembourg Economic UnionUnissued contingency issueProduction reference stageHistoryLuxembourg1982Pick 52bpPick 52bPMG 55 EPQAbout UncirculatedMuseum GradeR9 Extremely Rare

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Luxembourg 1982 500 Francs specimen serial A000000 096 with red diagonal SPECIMEN overprint and two punch holes, Pick 52as, PMG 66 EPQ Gem Uncirculated

Luxembourg 1982 - 500 Francs Specimen Grand Duchess Charlotte (Pick 52as)

The note remains in Gem Uncirculated condition with exceptional paper quality, preserving strong embossing, sharp print detail, and full clarity of all specimen control elements. Read more →

LuxembourgSpecimen1982500 FrancsPMG 66 EPQ Gem Uncirculated Specimen500 FrancsRed SPECIMEN overprintDiagonal SPECIMENTwo Punch HolesPunch CancelledA000000 096Specimen Serial FormatGrand Duchess CharlotteLuxembourg banknote designIntaglio engravingGuilloche security patternBradbury WilkinsonBWCLuxembourg monetary systemBelgian Luxembourg Economic UnionUnissued contingency issueWorking denominationHistoryLuxembourg1982Pick 52asPick 52aPMG 66 EPQGem UncirculatedMuseum Grade

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Luxembourg 1982 500 Francs proof with no overprint or serials, Pick 52ap, PMG 66 EPQ Gem Uncirculated, Top Pop 1 of 1

Luxembourg 1982 - 500 Francs Proof Grand Duchess Charlotte (Pick 52ap)

Printed by Bradbury, Wilkinson & Company, Limited, the note presents the complete design in its pure form, without overprints, serial numbering, or cancellation. The portrait of Grand Duchess Charlotte is rendered in precise intaglio engraving, supported by a dense guilloche framework and balanced ornamental layout. At this stage, the note functions as a reference standard, used to confirm engraving accuracy, spatial alignment, and readiness for transition into subsequent production phases. Read more →

LuxembourgProof1982500 FrancsPMG 66 EPQ Gem Uncirculated Proof500 FrancsTop Pop 1 of 1Unique Graded ExampleCore DenominationGrand Duchess CharlotteLuxembourg banknote designIntaglio engravingGuilloche security patternBradbury WilkinsonBWCLuxembourg monetary systemBelgian Luxembourg Economic UnionUnissued contingency issueProduction reference stageHistoryLuxembourg1982Pick 52apPick 52aPMG 66 EPQGem UncirculatedMuseum GradeR9 Extremely Rare

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Luxembourg 1970 100 Francs calibration specimen serial D170001 with blue registration gridlines and handwritten printer annotation, Pick 56s

Luxembourg 1970 - 100 Francs Archival Gridlines Calibration Specimen Serial D170001 (Pick 56s)

Archival calibration specimen of the 1970 one hundred francs issue of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, produced during the Belgian Luxembourg Economic Union period and printed by Thomas De La Rue & Company, London. Unlike standard specimen notes bearing placeholder serials, this example carries a live production-format serial number D170001, linking it directly to an active print batch within the manufacturing process. Read more →

LuxembourgSpecimen1970100 FrancsPMG 65 EPQ Gem Uncirculated Specimen100 FrancsD170001Live SerialCalibration SheetGridlinesRegistration GridPrinter AnnotationHandwritten AnnotationGrand Duke JeanLuxembourg banknote designGuilloche security patternProduction calibrationPre-production controlThomas De La RueDe La RueTDLRLuxembourg monetary systemBelgian Luxembourg Economic UnionProduction workflowHistoryLuxembourg1970Pick 56sPick 56aPMG 65 EPQGem UncirculatedMuseum GradeAnnotationsHandwritten Annotations

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Luxembourg 20 March 1970 100 Francs face photographic proof with serial A000000 mounted on archival cardstock, Grand Duke Jean portrait

Luxembourg 20 March 1970 - 100 Francs Face Photographic Proof Grand Duke Jean (Pick Unlisted)

Within the broader framework of Luxembourg’s monetary history, this photographic proof represents the finalized design state of the 1970 series issued under the Belgian Luxembourg Economic Union. It captures the exact visual blueprint from which production notes were derived and serves as a reference point linking conceptual design work to finished currency. Read more →

LuxembourgPhotographic Proof (Face)1970100 FrancsPCGS 63 Choice New (Mounted on Cardstock) Photographic ProofFace Proof100 FrancsA000000Dual Serial FormatMounted CardstockArchival ProofGrand Duke JeanLuxembourg banknote designGuilloche security patternLayout approval stageLuxembourg monetary systemBelgian Luxembourg Economic Union1970 issueHistoryLuxembourg1970Pick UnlistedPick 56aPCGS 63Choice NewMuseum Grade

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Luxembourg 24 February 1970 100 Francs back photographic proof mounted on cardstock with handwritten date annotation and full cityscape design

Luxembourg 24 February 1970 - 100 Francs Back Photographic Proof (Pick Unlisted)

Photographic proofs of this type were used to evaluate composition, spatial balance, and engraving translation after the design had been finalized. Unlike plate proofs, they do not reflect ink depth or printing pressure, but instead provide a precise visual reference for layout alignment, vignette positioning, and border integration. Read more →

LuxembourgPhotographic Proof (Back)1970100 FrancsPCGS 64 Apparent (Mounted on Cardstock) Photographic ProofBack Proof100 FrancsMounted CardstockArchival ProofDated AnnotationLuxembourg cityscapeReverse designLayout approval stageGuilloche borderLuxembourg monetary systemBelgian Luxembourg Economic Union1970 issueHistoryLuxembourg1970Pick UnlistedPick 56aPCGS 64Very Choice NewMuseum GradeAnnotationsHandwritten Annotations

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Luxembourg 1970 - 100 Francs Specimen (Pick 56s)

The punch hole cancellation serves as the primary method of invalidation, physically rendering the note non-circulating while preserving the full design. Unlike perforated specimen formats, this punched cancellation is typical of later production practices, particularly for specimens prepared for institutional reference or controlled release outside the printing workflow. Read more →

LuxembourgSpecimen1970100 FrancsPMG 66 EPQ Gem Uncirculated Specimen100 FrancsA000000Dual Serial FormatSPECIMEN OverprintPunch Hole CancellationGrand Duke JeanGuilloche security patternOffset and intaglio combinationIssued design typeLuxembourg monetary systemBelgian Luxembourg Economic Union1970 issueHistoryLuxembourg1970Pick 56sPick 56aPMG 66 EPQGem UncirculatedMuseum Grade

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