Collection PL

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 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 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 →

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

As the unoverprinted foundation of the 1912 emergency overprint series, this note has importance beyond its catalog number. It documents the original Banco de la República issue, the Waterlow & Sons design program, the gold-referenced value language, and the exact paper-money instrument that Paraguay later brought into its emergency state emission system. The later overprints tell the story of crisis and government revalidation; this note tells the story of the original monetary promise before that crisis intervened. Read more →

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

Certified ICG AU/UNC 60, this piece preserves original paper texture with light handling only. Surviving examples are rarely encountered, as most fede di credito were redeemed and destroyed. It stands as one of the earliest engraved forms linking Italian unification banking reforms with centuries-old Neapolitan credit practices, bridging medieval traditions and modern note engraving. Read more →

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 →

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

Together with the 30 Lire specimen note, this vignette establishes a complete design lineage from engraved origin to final printed instrument, making it an essential companion artifact and a critical reference point for the series. Read more →

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

The note’s oversized layout is striking, with ornate guilloché and multiple coats of arms symbolizing the pre-unification states of Italy. This heraldic display was already becoming obsolete by the 1860s as national identity consolidated, making this design a rare vestige of Italy’s regional past engraved onto its financial instruments. Wide margins, full color, and archival cancellations confirm its specimen status. Read more →

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

Produced during the late interwar period when secure portable payment instruments were vital for travel within the British Empire, this proof reflects the evolution of Australian financial printing in collaboration with Bradbury Wilkinson & Co., London. The fine typographic composition, deep guilloche background, and continuous ‘BRADBURY WILKINSON AND COMPANY LIMITED’ underprint confirm its master plate origin. Read more →

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

In the mid-20th century, before widespread credit card adoption, traveller’s cheques were the safest form of portable currency for customers abroad. Major Australian banks such as the CBC of Sydney maintained dedicated foreign exchange departments, issuing cheques that were accepted across the Commonwealth and internationally. These photographic proofs were produced by the bank’s security printer to document the approved layout, color balance, and security features before final lithographic printing. Read more →

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

The CBC of Sydney was a cornerstone of Australian finance, founded in 1834 and later merging into the National Australia Bank. Its traveller’s cheque program reflected both the confidence and sophistication of the postwar Australian economy. Before credit cards, such cheques provided a secure means for travellers to carry and exchange money internationally, backed by the issuing bank’s reputation. Read more →

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 →