Collection

Poland 1994 — 50 Zlotych (Pick 175a, PMG 70 EPQ Star, Top Pop, Serial HC7367738)

Definitive circulation note of the 1994 issue (ND 1995) depicting King Kazimierz III Wielki. Catalogued as Pick 175a and CM#198a‑b, this type inaugurated the modern post‑redenomination design language for Narodowy Bank Polski, with intricate guilloches, latent images, microtext, and a crowned‑eagle watermark derived from the state arms. This certified example is graded PMG 70 EPQ ★, the highest grade assigned for the type and a Top Pop. ... Read more →

France 1793 — Domaines Nationaux Assignat 10 Sous (Pick A68b, Block 305, Watermark RF/Xs, PMG 65 EPQ Gem Uncirculated)

Small‑change assignat issued by the Revolutionary government for the sale and administration of the 'Domaines Nationaux'—property confiscated from the Crown, Church and émigrés. These fractional notes functioned as day‑to‑day money during the inflationary years of the Revolution. The face shows the typographic layout introduced for the small denominations: a classical frame with civic emblems and the famous border mottos 'LA LOI PUNIT DE MORT LE CONTREFACTEUR' and 'LA NATION RÉCOMPENSE LE DÉNONCIATEUR'. ... Read more →

France 1793 — Domaines Nationaux Assignat 50 Sols (Pick A70b, Série 681, Watermark RF/50s, PMG 64 Choice Uncirculated)

Fifty‑sols assignat from the 'Domaines Nationaux' series—fractional Revolutionary paper keyed to sales and rents of nationalized property but used broadly as transactional money. The denomination sits in a classical pediment supported by allegorical figures of Economy and Justice, a visual program meant to legitimize paper credit in a time of fiscal emergency. Design details include 'Loi du 23 Mai 1793', 'Série 681', the manuscript signature 'Fausny', an impressed state seal (timbre sec), and a purpose‑made watermark 'RF/50s'. ... Read more →

France 1792 — Domaines Nationaux Assignat 15 Sols (Pick A54, Série 1808, PMG 58 Choice About Uncirculated)

Early small‑denomination assignat dated to the constitutional monarchy’s final months—'Loi du 4 Janvier 1792' and 'L’An Quatrième de la Liberté' appear in the header cartouches. Printed for the Domaines Nationaux program, these 15‑sol notes bridged everyday commerce and the land‑backed credit scheme that financed the Revolution. The frame is packed with didactic devices: laurel panels, civic emblems, the legal threats against forgers, and the reward to informers. ... Read more →

Italy 1870 — Banca Toscana di Anticipazioni e di Sconto 2 Lire (Pick Unlisted, PMG 64 Choice Uncirculated)

Florentine two‑lire "Bono di Cassa" authorized by Royal Decree of 24 April 1870 for the Banca Toscana di Anticipazioni e di Sconto. The face shows Dante Alighieri at left, a boldly engraved LIRE DUE tablet at center, and a red circular control seal of Florence—typical of Tuscan bank instruments immediately after unification. These cashier’s notes formed the short‑term liquidity layer of Italy’s regional banking scene in the 1860s–1870s, sitting between coin and larger banknotes. ... Read more →

Ireland 1940 — Northern Bank Limited £1 (Pick 178b, PMG 67 EPQ Superb Gem Uncirculated)

Classic pre‑decimal £1 of Northern Bank Limited, Belfast, with the dramatic blue ONE counter across the center. Maritime and industrial vignettes reflect the bank’s Ulster customer base—shipping, linen, and engineering—and the note retains the ornate Victorian border language long favored by Northern Irish issuers. This is the black‑prefix and black‑serial variety recorded for 1940 within Pick 178b. ... Read more →

Ireland 1939–40 — Belfast Banking Company Limited £1 (Pick 126b, PMG 58 Choice About Uncirculated)

£1 note of the Belfast Banking Company Limited, dated 9 November 1939, with the arms of Belfast and the bank’s name in a sweeping banner. The face carries the finely engraved counters "ONE" in the corners and a blue value panel through the promise text—an eye‑catching security feature on this inter‑war design. Pick 126b identifies the late 1930s series with blue serials; this example is prefixed E/M, a style used by the bank to manage branches and print batches. ... Read more →

Scotland 1959 — National Commercial Bank of Scotland Limited £1 (Pick 265, Bradbury Wilkinson, PMG 58 EPQ Choice About Uncirculated)

One Pound of the National Commercial Bank of Scotland Limited dated 16 September 1959. Printed by Bradbury, Wilkinson and Company, the note carries the Head of Caledonia watermark and presents a panoramic view of the Forth Bridge—Scotland's engineering icon—beneath the central promise text. The National Commercial Bank was a pillar of Scottish banking until its merger with the Royal Bank of Scotland in 1969. ... Read more →

Scotland 1956–64 — The Royal Bank of Scotland £1 (Pick 324b, With Engraver's Name on Back, PMG 64 EPQ Choice Uncirculated)

Royal Bank of Scotland One Pound of the 1956–64 series, variety with the engraver's imprint on back as cited by PMG. The face carries the bank's crowned arms and the long‑standing central medallion portrait associated with the institution since the eighteenth century, surrounded by a dense field of micro‑lettered Royal Bank of Scotland repeats. Production credit on this type appears as W and A K Johnston and G W Bacon Ltd Edinburgh, reflecting Scottish engraving traditions as late as the mid‑twentieth century before most issuers shifted to London firms. ... Read more →

Scotland 1967 — British Linen Bank £1 Specimen (Pick 168s, TDLR, Sorting Lines on Back, PMG 55 EPQ About Uncirculated)

Specimen One Pound of the British Linen Bank dated 13 June 1967, printed by Thomas De La Rue. The face shows the royal arms above the title and an ornate security panel at center. Standard De La Rue SPECIMEN oval handstamps and a specimen control number are present, together with a cancellation punch. ... Read more →

Ireland — Northern 1977 — Bank of Ireland Limited £1 Specimen (Pick 247as PR101, TDLR, PMG 64 Choice Uncirculated)

Specimen £1 of the Bank of Ireland Limited, dated 1 January 1977 and printed by Thomas De La Rue. The obverse features the youthful portrait at right with a shield row and Celtic motifs along the base. SPECIMEN overprint and De La Rue oval handstamps appear at left and right, and the note bears the contemporary manager signature J. ... Read more →

Ireland — Northern 1968–72 — Provincial Bank of Ireland Limited £1 Specimen (Pick 245s PR99, TDLR, PMG 58 EPQ Choice About Uncirculated)

De La Rue specimen of the Provincial Bank of Ireland £1, dated 1 January 1968. Classical head within a guilloche medallion at center, with the denomination framed by large sterling symbols. SPECIMEN diagonal overprint and De La Rue control ovals confirm its archival status, accompanied by a cancellation punch and specimen serial panel. ... Read more →