Collection PL

Australia 1929 - Commercial Banking Company of Sydney Limited - Circular Letter of Introduction Photographic Proof (Mounted on Cardstock, PCGS 50 About New)

This photographic proof represents a Circular Letter of Introduction prepared for the Commercial Banking Company of Sydney Limited during the late interwar period. Such documents functioned as formal financial identification instruments, issued to bank clients traveling abroad to establish identity, credibility, and recognized standing within an international banking network. In practical use, the holder would present the letter to correspondent banks, which would acknowledge the issuing institution and extend services based on that established relationship. ... Read more →

Uruguay 1871 - Banco de Londres y Rio de la Plata 10 Pesos Face Proof (Pick S239p)

This face proof represents the obverse-only proof state of the 10 Pesos issue prepared for the Banco de Londres y Rio de la Plata in 1871. It was pulled directly from the finished face plate during the engraving and plate-approval process, prior to the preparation of reverse plates, serial numbering, or the assembly of complete circulating banknotes. As such, it documents the earliest finalized stage of design approval rather than a variant of an issued note. ... Read more →

United States 1933 - Any City, U.S.A. 5 Dollars City and County Scrip Specimen (Generic Municipal Master Form)

This specimen represents a generic City and County municipal scrip master form, dated Series of 1933 and denominated Five Dollars, produced during the most acute phase of the Great Depression. Explicitly designated for use by ANY CITY, U.S.A., the instrument was not issued by a specific municipality but instead functioned as a standardized template intended for rapid adoption by multiple cities and counties facing severe liquidity collapse. During the banking crisis of 1933, municipalities across the United States encountered simultaneous failures of cash circulation, delayed tax receipts, and restricted access to credit markets. ... Read more →

Uruguay 1939 - Banco de la Republica Oriental del Uruguay 1000 Pesos Specimen, Printed Cancel, Serie D, Specimen No. 23 (Pick 41cs)

Issued under the authority of the Banco de la Republica Oriental del Uruguay, this 1939 one thousand pesos specimen is an official reference example from Serie D, numbered Specimen No. 23. It records the completed appearance of one of the most imposing denominations in Uruguay's prewar paper currency system, preserved in specimen form for controlled administrative, banking, and archival use. ... Read more →

Uruguay 1939 - Banco de la Republica Oriental del Uruguay 1000 Pesos Specimen, Printed Cancel, Serie C, Specimen No. 2 (Pick 41bs)

This Banco de la Republica Oriental del Uruguay one thousand pesos specimen is identified as Serie C, Specimen No. 2, placing it near the beginning of its numbered specimen sequence. Rather than serving as a general representation of the denomination, it is an individually numbered control piece documenting the Serie C form of the 1939 issue in its completed printed state. ... Read more →

United States 1854 - Empire City Bank 100 Dollars Proof (Pick NY1585G16P)

This note represents a proof of the one hundred dollars denomination prepared for the Empire City Bank of New York during the final year of the institution’s operation. It was produced as part of the internal design approval and engraving review process and was never intended for public circulation. As such, it belongs to the documentary layer of American private banknote production rather than to issued or remainder currency. ... Read more →

Poland 1928 - Bank Polski 20 Zlotych Archival Watermarked Paper (Miłczak 67)

Archival watermarked paper prepared by Thomas De La Rue and Company Limited in London for the unissued Bank Polski 20 Zlotych banknote dated 2 January 1928. This piece preserves the original production substrate for the note: the security paper with multitone portrait watermark, before banknote printing. It is not a printed banknote, but a surviving archival component from one of the most important unrealized Polish banknote projects of the interwar period. ... Read more →

New Zealand 1967 - 10 Dollars (Pick 166as, Fleming Signature, TDLR Overprint Specimen, Serial C4000000, PMG 67 EPQ Superb Gem Uncirculated)

The 1967 ten-dollar specimen forms part of the inaugural decimal currency series issued by the Reserve Bank of New Zealand, marking the country’s transition from the sterling-based system to the modern dollar structure introduced in July 1967. This example carries the signature of Roderick Ninian Fleming, issued during the ND (1967–1968) period, whose tenure as Chief Cashier defined the initial phase of decimalization and makes his signed notes among the earliest products of the new monetary system. Printed by Thomas De La Rue & Company, London, the specimen was prepared for formal distribution to central banks and institutional collections. ... Read more →

New Zealand 1981 - 1 Dollar (Pick 169as, H.R. Hardie Signature, Star Serial AA000000*, Printer’s Annotation, PMG 65 EPQ Gem Uncirculated)

The 1981 one-dollar specimen represents an exceptional and highly specialized production-stage piece from New Zealand’s decimal currency series, issued during the ND (1981–1985) period under the signature of H.R. Hardie as Chief Cashier. This note belongs to the later Hardie design featuring the revised, more mature portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, clearly distinguishing it from the earlier ND (1977–1981) issues bearing the same signatory. ... Read more →

Luxembourg 1966 - 20 Francs Issued Note (Pick 54a)

Issued twenty francs note of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg dated 1966, representing the first fully matured expression of the Grand Duke Jean series within the Belgian Luxembourg Economic Union framework. Printed by Thomas De La Rue and Company, London, this denomination reflects the point where design, engraving, and production discipline reached stable standardization for Luxembourg’s circulating paper money. The obverse features Grand Duke Jean in formal military attire, engraved in deep intaglio with controlled line density and consistent ink distribution. ... Read more →

Luxembourg 1966 - 20 Francs Specimen (Pick 54s)

Specimen of the twenty francs note of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg dated 1966, produced as part of the official reference and control series for the Grand Duke Jean issue within the Belgian Luxembourg Economic Union framework. Printed by Thomas De La Rue and Company, London, this piece represents the approved design in its non-circulating validation format. The obverse presents Grand Duke Jean in formal military attire, engraved in precise intaglio with finely controlled line density and consistent ink distribution. ... Read more →

Luxembourg 1966 - 20 Francs Color Trial Specimen (Pick 54cts)

Color trial specimen of the twenty francs note of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg dated 1966, produced during the advanced evaluation phase of the Grand Duke Jean series within the Belgian Luxembourg Economic Union framework. Printed by Thomas De La Rue and Company, London, this example represents a controlled press-stage trial where final color relationships, engraving visibility, and overall tonal balance were assessed prior to full production approval. The obverse displays Grand Duke Jean in formal military attire, rendered in finely controlled intaglio and surrounded by complex multicolor guilloche structures. ... Read more →