Collection — Specimens, Proofs & Issued Banknotes

United States 1929 The Warren National Bank of Peabody Massachusetts 10 Dollars Type 2 National Bank Note, Charter 616, Friedberg 1801-2, serial number A000791, plate position E, brown seal National Currency note certified PMG 25 Very Fine.

United States 1929 - The Warren National Bank of Peabody, Massachusetts 10 Dollars Type 2 National Bank Note, Charter 616 (Fr. 1801-2)

As a surviving 1929 Type 2 National Bank Note from Peabody, Massachusetts, this piece is a focused example of small-size National Currency from the final phase of the National Bank Note system. Its importance rests in the combination of federal currency design, local bank identification, Charter 616 attribution, Peabody industrial context, and certified preservation in PMG 25 Very Fine condition. Read more →

United StatesNational Bank Note192910 DollarsPMG 25 Very Fine National Bank NoteNational CurrencySmall Size National Bank NoteSeries of 19291929 Type 2Type 2 National Bank Note10 DollarsTen DollarsBrown SealIssued NoteFederal CurrencyLocal BanknoteCharter Bank NoteCharter Number NoteThe Warren National Bank of PeabodyWarren National BankPeabody MassachusettsPeabodyMassachusettsEssex CountyCharter 616CH 616Serial A000791Plate Position EAlexander HamiltonHamilton PortraitBureau of Engraving and PrintingBEPUnited States TreasuryNational Banking EraSmall Size Currency1930s CurrencyPeabody Leather IndustryLeather IndustryNew England BankingMassachusetts Banking HistoryLocal Banking HistoryIndustrial Banking HistoryAmerican Financial HistoryFriedberg 1801-2Fr. 1801-2PMG 25 Very FinePMG 25 VFVery FineCertified NoteUnited StatesUnited States 1929

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United States 1929 Type 1 - 10 Dollars National Bank Note The First National Bank of Philadelphia Pennsylvania Fr 1801-1 Charter 1 PMG 25 Very Fine

United States 1929 Type 1 - 10 Dollars National Bank Note - The First National Bank of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Charter 1 (Fr. 1801-1)

The First National Bank of Philadelphia holds Charter 1, the very first federal national bank charter issued under the National Banking Act of 1863. Granted on June 20, 1863, it became the prototype for a new system that tied local banknotes to United States bonds and standardized design, redemption, and supervision across the country. Read more →

United StatesNational Bank Note192910 DollarsPMG 25 Very Fine 10 DollarsNational Bank NoteIssued NoteType 1PhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaCharter 1Low CharterHamilton1929PMG 25 VFFederal Banking History

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United States 1914 50 Dollars Federal Reserve Note Philadelphia District Fr 1035 White Mellon PMG 30 EPQ

United States 1914 – 50 Dollars Federal Reserve Note – Philadelphia District White | Mellon (Fr.1035)

Printed by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, the note bears the signature pair of Treasury officials White and Mellon. Its large-size layout measures approximately 7.4 by 3.1 inches, engraved with elaborate guilloche and shaded lathework that define the artistry of early twentieth-century federal issues. The Friedberg reference number 1035 identifies the Philadelphia district variety, distinguished by its blue Treasury seal and serials beginning with the prefix C. Read more →

United StatesFederal Reserve Note191450 DollarsPMG 30 EPQ Very Fine 50 DollarsFederal Reserve NoteIssued NotePhiladelphiaFr 10351914 Series1914Large SizeGrantPanama ReverseUnited StatesPMG 30 EPQ

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Paraguay 1907 - Banco de la República 100 Pesos Issued Note (Pick 159)

The watermark adds another important layer of authentication and production quality. PMG identifies the note with “Wmk: 100,” confirming the denomination watermark used in the paper. This feature is especially useful when studying the relationship between the issued Pick 159 note and the later overprinted forms, because it anchors the physical paper stock beneath all subsequent fiscal markings. In an issue family where later overprints can dominate attention, the watermark, base engraving, serial format, and imprint are essential evidence of the original production standard. Read more →

ParaguayIssued Note1907100 PesosPMG 66 EPQ Gem Uncirculated Issued Note100 PesosPick 159Banco de la RepúblicaBase TypeNon-Overprinted IssueOriginal IssueSeries ARed Serial NumberWaterlow & SonsWaterlow & Sons London100 WatermarkWmk 100Architectural VignetteBanco de la República BuildingGuilloché Security DesignIntaglio PrintingYellow-Green TintBlack EngravingLarge Denomination PanelsMoneda NacionalDiez Pesos Oro SelladoGold-Value ClauseTen Sealed Gold PesosBase for 1912 State OverprintBase for Pick 134Base for Dual-Side Treasury RevalidationParaguayan Monetary HistorySouth American Monetary HistoryEarly 20th Century FinancePre-1912 Emergency IssueReference TypeCurrency Reform ContextHistoryParaguayRepublic of Paraguay19071912PMG 66 EPQGem UncirculatedMuseum Grade

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Italy ND (1868) Banco di Napoli Fede di Credito specimen, ICG 60 AU/UNC

Italy 1868 - Banco di Napoli Fede di Credito 50–200 Lire Specimen (Pick Unlisted)

Specimen Fede di Credito from the Banco di Napoli, engraved by Bradbury, Wilkinson & Co. during the early years of the unified Kingdom of Italy. The Banco di Napoli traced its roots back to charitable institutions founded in 1539, making it one of Europe’s oldest surviving banks. Rather than circulating currency in the strict sense, these fede di credito served as deposit receipts payable on demand, functioning as quasi-banknotes that circulated regionally as trusted paper. Read more →

ItalySpecimen186850–200 LireICG 60 AU/UNC Pick-UnlistedBradbury WilkinsonBWCSpecimenItalian KingdomBanco di Napoli50 lire200 lireItaly1868

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Italy 1869 Credito Agricolo della Cassa di Risparmio in Bologna 30 Lire specimen serial number 0001 printed by Bradbury Wilkinson and Company PMG 63 Top Pop

Italy 1869 - Credito Agricolo della Cassa di Risparmio in Bologna 30 Lire Specimen (Pick Unlisted)

As a specimen, this piece represents a pre-circulation state, typically produced for internal approval, institutional reference, or regulatory presentation. Its status is exceptional: serial No. 0001, marking it as the very first pull, likely prepared for board-level approval or formal presentation purposes. Read more →

ItalySpecimen186930 LirePMG 63 Choice Uncirculated Top Pop Serial Number 0001 SpecimenAgricultural Credit NoteCredito AgricoloCassa di Risparmio in BolognaPrivate Banking InstrumentControlled Credit IssueOdd Denomination30 LireBradbury Wilkinson and CompanySecurity PrintingGuilloche EngravingBlue UnderprintPortrait MedallionIssuance PanelItalian Banking HistoryPost Unification ItalyNineteenth Century FinanceAgricultural Credit SystemHistoryItaly1869Pick UnlistedPMG 63Top PopUniqueR9 Extremely RareMuseum Grade

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Italy 1869 Bradbury Wilkinson engraved portrait vignette used directly in the Credito Agricolo della Cassa di Risparmio in Bologna 30 Lire banknote design

Italy 1869 - Bradbury, Wilkinson and Company Portrait of Man for Credito Agricolo della Cassa di Risparmio in Bologna 30 Lire Design Intaglio Vignette

Vignettes of this type were engraved separately within the security printing workflow, allowing master engravers to refine portrait structure, shading, and line depth before integration into the full note layout. The precision visible in the engraving reflects high-level nineteenth century intaglio technique, with controlled line work used to build tonal realism and dimensional depth. Read more →

ItalyVignette1869Not ApplicablePMG Certified VignettePortrait VignetteEngraving ProofIntaglio EngravingBradbury Wilkinson and CompanySecurity PrintingDesign ElementBanknote ProductionCredito AgricoloCassa di Risparmio in Bologna30 Lire30 Lire IssueCompanion PieceLinked ArtifactItalian Banking HistoryPost Unification ItalyNineteenth Century FinanceHistoryItaly1869Pick UnlistedR8 Extremely RareMuseum Grade

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Italy 1866 Credito Fondiario di Bologna 50 Lire specimen, PMG 66 EPQ

Italy 1866 - Credito Fondiario di Bologna 50 Lire Specimen (Pick Unlisted)

Specimen proof of the 50 Lire issue from the Credito Fondiario di Bologna, engraved by Bradbury, Wilkinson & Co. and dated 1866. Credito Fondiario institutions specialized in long-term, mortgage-backed lending-a key innovation in Italy’s financial system, providing stability and funding for agricultural and urban development at a time when the new Kingdom was still economically fragmented. Read more →

ItalySpecimen186650 LirePMG 66 EPQ (Top Pop) OversizedSpecimen ProofProofSpecimenPrivate BankItalian StatesPick UnlistedTop PopPMG 66 EPQ50 lireBradbury WilkinsonBWCItaly1866

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Australia ca.1939 Commercial Banking Company of Sydney LIMITED £5 Travellers Cheque photographic proof, PCGS 63

Australia 1939 - Commercial Banking Company of Sydney LIMITED £5 Travellers Cheque Photographic Proof (Pick Unlisted)

Historically, this 1939 proof bridges the institutional continuity between Australia’s interwar financial infrastructure and its postwar traveller’s cheque system. It documents how Australian banks maintained London-based printing contracts to guarantee international recognition and anti-counterfeit standards decades before modern traveler payment systems emerged. Read more →

AustraliaPhotographic Proof19395 PoundsPCGS 63 Choice New (Mounted on Cardstock) Pick UnlistedPhotographic Proof5 PoundsTravellers ChequeTravelers CheckCommercial Bank of SydneySydneyCommercial Banking Company of Sydney LIMITEDCommercial Bank of SydneyBradbury WilkinsonBWCPre-War1939Australia

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Australia ca.1963 Commercial Banking Company of Sydney LIMITED £5 Travellers Cheque photographic proof, PCGS 58

Australia 1963 - Commercial Banking Company of Sydney LIMITED £5 Travellers Cheque Photographic Proof (Pick Unlisted)

Photographic proof of a £5 Travellers Cheque for the Commercial Banking Company of Sydney LIMITED, mounted on cardstock and dated '9/3/63' in pencil at the lower margin. Produced circa 1963 as part of the bank’s internal approval and recordkeeping process for its international traveller’s cheque program. Read more →

AustraliaPhotographic Proof19635 PoundsPCGS 58 Choice About New Pick UnlistedPhotographic Proof5 PoundsTravellers ChequeTravelers CheckSydneyCommercial Banking Company of Sydney LIMITEDCommercial Bank of SydneyCommercial Bank of SydneyTop Pop1963Australia

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Australia ca.1963 Commercial Banking Company of Sydney LIMITED £5 Travellers Cheque specimen

Australia 1963 - Commercial Banking Company of Sydney LIMITED £5 Travellers Cheque Specimen (Pick Unlisted)

Perforated SPECIMEN with zero serials (No. M00.000), this archival piece was produced for approval and reference, pairing directly with the photographic proof that documented the design’s development. It represents the intersection of currency design and financial modernization, showing how Australian banking adopted global printing standards while maintaining distinctly Commonwealth-era aesthetics. Read more →

AustraliaSpecimen19635 PoundsUncirculated (Specimen, Archival) Pick UnlistedTravellers ChequeTravelers CheckSpecimen5 PoundsSydneyCommercial Banking Company of Sydney LIMITEDCommercial Bank of SydneyCommercial Bank of Sydney1963Australia

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Australia ca.1963 Commercial Banking Company of Sydney LIMITED £2 Travellers Cheque specimen

Australia 1963 - Commercial Banking Company of Sydney LIMITED £2 Travellers Cheque Specimen (Pick Unlisted)

This piece is perforated SPECIMEN with zero serials (No. S00.000) and bears an archival pencil notation in the margin, confirming its role as a retained printer’s or bank approval sample. As physical evidence of an otherwise ephemeral product, it illustrates mid-century Australian banking innovation and design aesthetics at a time when local banks were expanding globally. Read more →

AustraliaSpecimen19632 PoundsUncirculated (Specimen, Archival) Pick UnlistedTravellers ChequeTravelers CheckSpecimenSydneyCommercial Banking Company of Sydney LIMITEDCommercial Bank of SydneyCommercial Bank of Sydney1963Australia

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