Collection — Specimens, Proofs & Issued Banknotes

Uruguay 1887 Banco Nacional de la Republica Oriental del Uruguay 20 Centesimos Pick A88a issued note serial A029393 with hand applied signatures and Mercury vignette

Uruguay 1887 - Banco Nacional de la Republica Oriental del Uruguay 20 Centesimos Issued Note Serial A029393 (Pick A88a)

The obverse presents the seated Mercury allegory at left, symbolizing commerce and circulation, rendered in refined intaglio engraving typical of Waterlow export contracts. At right, the national coat of arms asserts sovereign authority within an ornate guilloche frame. The layered green and black linework demonstrates late Victorian security printing discipline, combining ornamental density with clear denomination hierarchy. Read more →

UruguayIssued Note188720 CentesimosVF (PMG 20 est.) Issued Note20 CentesimosSerial A029393Hand SignedMercury AllegoryGreen Guilloche ReverseWaterlow and SonsBanco Nacional de la Republica Oriental del UruguayLey 25 de Agosto de 1887Uruguay Monetary ReformLate 19th Century BankingUruguay1887Pick A88aMuseum Grade

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Uruguay 1887 Banco Nacional de la Republica Oriental del Uruguay 20 Centesimos Pick A88a issued note serial A053441 with hand applied signatures and Mercury vignette

Uruguay 1887 - Banco Nacional de la Republica Oriental del Uruguay 20 Centesimos Issued Note Serial A053441 (Pick A88a)

Serial A053441 remains within the A-prefix distribution associated with the hand-signed phase of production. The signatures of Vittone, Bugliam, and Gimenez are individually executed in ink. Variations in stroke weight, pressure, and alignment confirm manual application, distinguishing this classification from the later mechanically reproduced A88c variety. Read more →

UruguayIssued Note188720 CentesimosVF to VF Plus (PMG 20 to 25 estimated) Issued Note20 CentesimosSerial A053441Hand SignedMercury AllegoryGreen Guilloche ReverseWaterlow and SonsBanco Nacional de la Republica Oriental del UruguayLey 25 de Agosto de 1887Uruguay Metallic Standard EraUruguay1887Pick A88aMuseum Grade

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Uruguay 1887 Banco Nacional de la Republica Oriental del Uruguay 20 Centesimos Pick A88c issued note serial K078922 with mechanically printed signatures and Mercury vignette

Uruguay 1887 - Banco Nacional de la Republica Oriental del Uruguay 20 Centesimos Issued Note Serial K078922 (Pick A88c)

The Banco Nacional functioned as a principal national banking authority in late nineteenth century Uruguay, issuing notes convertible within a metallic-based monetary structure. The 20 Centesimos denomination formed the fractional tier of the 1887 emission, facilitating small commercial transactions while retaining the same high level of engraved security sophistication applied to higher denominations. Read more →

UruguayIssued Note188720 CentesimosVF (PMG 20 est.) Issued Note20 CentesimosSerial K078922Printed SignaturesMercury AllegoryGreen Guilloche ReverseWaterlow and SonsBanco Nacional de la Republica Oriental del UruguayLey 25 de Agosto de 1887Uruguay Metallic Standard EraUruguay1887Pick A88cMuseum Grade

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Uruguay 1887 Banco Nacional de la Republica Oriental del Uruguay 20 Centesimos Pick A88c issued note serial J016899 with red PAYSANDO branch overprint

Uruguay 1887 - Banco Nacional de la Republica Oriental del Uruguay 20 Centesimos Paysando Branch Overprint Serial J016899 (Pick A88c)

The Banco Nacional operated a centralized emission system with subsequent provincial distribution through regional branches. Branch overprints functioned as administrative control markings identifying notes allocated to specific provincial offices for circulation and accounting. The overprint on this example reads PAYSANDO, reflecting the contemporary nineteenth century spelling of the city today known as Paysandu. Read more →

UruguayIssued Note188720 CentesimosVF to VF Plus (PMG 20 to 25 estimated) Issued Note20 CentesimosSerial J016899Printed SignaturesPaysando Branch OverprintRed OverprintMercury AllegoryGreen Guilloche ReverseWaterlow and SonsBanco Nacional de la Republica Oriental del UruguayProvincial Branch DistributionLey 25 de Agosto de 1887Uruguay Metallic Standard EraUruguay1887Pick A88cMuseum Grade

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Uruguay 1887 Banco Nacional de la Republica Oriental del Uruguay 20 Centesimos Pick A88c issued note serial H092503 with red CANELONES branch overprint

Uruguay 1887 - Banco Nacional de la Republica Oriental del Uruguay 20 Centesimos CANELONES Branch Overprint Serial H092503 (Pick A88c)

Serial H092503 belongs to the H-prefix distribution of the mechanically signed production phase. The uniformity of signature placement and stroke confirms mechanical reproduction rather than hand application. The overprint was applied locally using manual press methods, resulting in minor variations in ink density and impression pressure characteristic of provincial branch markings. Read more →

UruguayIssued Note188720 CentesimosFine to Very Fine (PMG 15 to 20 estimated) Issued Note20 CentesimosSerial H092503Printed SignaturesCANELONES Branch OverprintRed OverprintMercury AllegoryGreen Guilloche ReverseWaterlow and SonsBanco Nacional de la Republica Oriental del UruguayProvincial Branch DistributionLey 25 de Agosto de 1887Uruguay Metallic Standard EraUruguay1887Pick A88cMuseum Grade

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Uruguay 1870 50 Centesimos Junta de Credito Publico Cow Head Serial 274594

Uruguay 1870 - Republica Oriental del Uruguay 50 Centesimos, Junta de Credito Publico (“Cow Head”) Serial 274594 (Pick A109b)

Issued by the Junta de Credito Publico under the Ley de 4 de Mayo de 1870, this 50 Centesimos note represents one of Uruguay’s earliest government-backed paper currencies. Locally printed in Montevideo by Litografía G. Mas & Cía., the design belongs to the same inaugural emission as the 1 Peso 'Mercury' note. Known to collectors as the 'Cow Head' type, its left vignette features a finely detailed depiction of Uruguay’s cattle, symbolizing the nation’s livestock wealth and agrarian economy. Read more →

UruguayIssued Note187050 CentesimosFine–Very Fine (est.) Junta de Credito PublicoCow Head50 CentesimosUruguay1870Local PrintEarly Issue

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Photographic transparency essay showing the Maenad engraving prepared for the 1996 North Macedonia 5000 Denari banknote

North Macedonia 1996 - 5000 Denari Photographic Transparency Essay (Maenad Vignette)

Because the transparency records the engraving without ink spread, paper absorption, or offset color layers, it preserves the Maenad figure in its most technically precise state. Every engraved line appears exactly as cut into the die, providing a rare view of the design before it was integrated into the complex layered printing structure of the finished banknote. Read more →

North MacedoniaPhotographic Proof19965000 DenariPCGS 63 Choice New Photographic ProofEssayPhotographic TransparencyPre-Press ProofEngraving Stage ProofMaenadMaenad VignetteBanknote EngravingSecurity Printing ProcessDe La RueBanknote Production WorkflowPre-Press MaterialsBanknote Design DevelopmentNorth Macedonia19965000 DenariPCGS 63Choice NewMuseum Grade

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North Macedonia 1996 5000 Denari De La Rue specimen with red SPECIMEN overprint, oval De La Rue NO VALUE stamp, EA0000000 control serial and specimen number 006

North Macedonia 1996 - 5000 Denari Specimen Maenad EA0000000 No. 006 (Pick 19s)

The serial format EA0000000 represents De La Rue’s standard specimen control numbering convention. Instead of a normal circulating serial, all digits are replaced with zeros to identify the note as a printer distribution copy. Separate from this control serial is the printed tracking number “SPECIMEN No. 006,” which records the specimen’s position within the printer’s internal distribution sequence supplied to central banks, archives, and technical reference collections. Read more →

North MacedoniaSpecimen with Red Overprint & Oval Stamp19965000 DenariPMG 64 Choice Uncirculated SpecimenRed SPECIMEN OverprintOval De La Rue NO VALUE StampTwin Punch CancelsPrinter SpecimenDe La RueSecurity PrintingPrinter Verification CopyEA0000000 Specimen SerialSpecimen Tracking NumberMaenadMaenad WatermarkClassical Macedonian SculptureNorth Macedonia19965000 DenariPick 19sPMG 64Choice UncirculatedMuseum Grade

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North Macedonia 1996 5000 Denari issued banknote EA5464675 featuring the Maened vignette, graded PMG 66 EPQ

North Macedonia 1996 - 5000 Denari Issued Note EA5464675 Maened (Pick 19a)

A key feature of the denomination is the integration of the Maenad motif into the banknote’s security architecture. The same figure appears as the watermark embedded within the paper, linking the principal engraved subject with one of the primary anti-counterfeiting devices. When the note is held to transmitted light, the watermark reproduces the Maenad form in soft tonal relief, demonstrating the intentional alignment between artistic design and security function. Read more →

North MacedoniaIssued Note19965000 DenariPMG 66 EPQ Issued NoteMaenedMaened WatermarkDe La RueSecurity PrintingIntaglio EngravingMicrotextSecurity ThreadSee-Through RegisterNorth Macedonia19965000 DenariPick 19aPMG 66 EPQGem UncirculatedMuseum Grade

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Engraved vignette die proof of the Golden Mask motif used on the 1996 North Macedonia 500 Denari banknote

North Macedonia 1996 - 500 Denari Vignette Die Proof (Golden Death Mask)

Because the die proof captures the engraving directly from the steel source, the image is preserved in its purest technical state. No color layers, offset backgrounds, guilloche patterns, or security threads are present. Every engraved stroke appears exactly as cut by the engraver, allowing detailed study of the line structure, shading technique, and sculptural modeling used to render the ancient artifact. Read more →

North MacedoniaVignette1996500 DenariPCGS 64 PPQ Very Choice New VignetteDie ProofVignette Die ProofGolden Death MaskGolden Mask of TrebenishtaBanknote EngravingEngraving Approval StagePre-Press ProofSecurity PrintingBanknote Production WorkflowDe La RueDe La Rue Engraving DepartmentNorth Macedonia1996500 DenariPick 17aPCGS 64 PPQVery Choice NewMuseum Grade

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North Macedonia 1996 500 Denari specimen with red SPECIMEN overprint, De La Rue NO VALUE stamp, GA0000000 control serial and specimen number 006

North Macedonia 1996 - 500 Denari Specimen Golden Death Mask GA0000000 No. 006 (Pick 17s)

Printer specimens such as this document the exact configuration delivered by the security printer before the notes entered circulation. Within the production sequence of the denomination, the specimen stage follows the earlier engraving proofs and photographic transparencies prepared during design development and precedes the fully issued circulation notes produced for the National Bank of the Republic of Macedonia. Read more →

North MacedoniaSpecimen with Red Overprint & Oval Stamp1996500 DenariPMG 64 Choice Uncirculated SpecimenRed SPECIMEN OverprintOval De La Rue NO VALUE StampTwin Punch CancelsPrinter SpecimenGolden Death MaskGolden Mask of TrebenishtaWatermarkSecurity PrintingDe La RuePrinter Verification CopySpecimen Control SerialSpecimen Tracking NumberNorth Macedonia1996500 DenariPick 17sPMG 64Choice UncirculatedMuseum Grade

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1996 North Macedonia 500 Denari issued banknote GB2531560 featuring the Golden Death Mask motif, graded PMG 66 EPQ

North Macedonia 1996 - 500 Denari Issued Note GB2531560 Golden Death Mask (Pick 17a)

Certified PMG 66 EPQ Gem Uncirculated, this example preserves the note in exceptional original condition. The paper retains full brightness, the intaglio impression remains sharply defined, and the layered printing structure can be studied exactly as produced. As the mid-denomination of the inaugural Macedonian series, the 500 Denari played a central role in everyday circulation while embodying the cultural and historical narrative chosen to represent the new national currency. Read more →

North MacedoniaIssued Note1996500 DenariPMG 66 EPQ Issued NoteGolden Death MaskGolden Mask of TrebenishtaArchaeological HeritageBanknote EngravingDe La RueSecurity PrintingIntaglio EngravingOffset PrintingSecurity ThreadMicrotextSee-Through RegisterGuilloche PatternsWatermarkNorth Macedonia1996500 DenariPick 17aPMG 66 EPQGem UncirculatedMuseum Grade

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