Search Results for "counterfeit" - Collection

Australia 1877 City of Melbourne Bank Limited £20 specimen engraved by Bradbury Wilkinson, PMG 62 Uncirculated, unique surviving example

Australia 1877 - City of Melbourne Bank Limited £20 Specimen (Pick Unlisted)

The engraving is a characteristic example of Bradbury Wilkinson’s late Victorian security printing: a bold central title cartouche, finely balanced allegorical figures symbolizing commerce and navigation, and dense lathe-work designed to defeat contemporary counterfeiting. These elements were not decorative excess, but functional security features exported from London to colonial issuers seeking credibility and trust in rapidly expanding financial markets. Read more →

AustraliaSpecimen187720 PoundsPMG 62 Uncirculated Specimen20 PoundsCity of Melbourne Bank LimitedBradbury WilkinsonBWCPick UnlistedColonial SpecimenEngraved Security PrintingAustralian Private BanknotesVictoria Banking HistoryPre-Federation FinanceGold Rush Era BankingSecurity Printing History19th Century BankingAustralian Monetary HistoryAustraliaVictoria1877PMG 62Museum GradeR9 Extremely RareUnique

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Poland 1994 50 Złotych front proof, Pick 175ap1, PMG 63 Choice Uncirculated, final approved obverse design by Thomas De La Rue

Poland 1994 - 50 Zlotych Front Proof (Pick 175ap1)

The 1994 series marked Poland’s first fully modern banknote family following economic transformation and redenomination. It introduced a new visual identity grounded in historical portraiture, contemporary engraving techniques, and significantly upgraded anti-counterfeiting structures. Surviving proof material from this stage is exceptionally scarce due to routine archival destruction of trial and approval sheets once production concluded. Read more →

PolandFront Proof199450 ZłotychPMG 63 Choice Uncirculated (Front Proof, Top Pop 1/1) Front ProofPick 175ap1Thomas De La RueTDLRNarodowy Bank PolskiKazimierz WielkiCasimir the GreatModern Polish BanknotesRedenomination SeriesPoland1994PMG 63Top PopR9 Extremely RareUniqueMuseum Grade

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China 1915 South Sinkiang Border Defence Headquarters 1 tael textile emergency banknote printed on woven cloth with red overprint and bilingual inscriptions

China 1915 - South Sinkiang Border Defence Headquarters 1 Tael Textile Emergency Issue (Pick Unlisted)

The banknote is printed on hand-woven textile rather than paper, a deliberate and practical choice dictated by frontier conditions. The cloth substrate displays visible horizontal striping consistent with regional weaving traditions, providing durability and resistance to casual counterfeiting. Printing was executed using woodblock techniques, producing uneven ink penetration characteristic of authentic frontier textile issues. Read more →

ChinaTextile Banknote19151 TaelFine (Textile Issue) Textile BanknoteTextile Emergency CurrencyCloth CurrencyMilitary Emergency Issue1 TaelWoodblock PrintingRed OverprintSouth Sinkiang Border Defence HeadquartersFrontier Military AdministrationRegional Monetary SystemUyghur-Chinese Bilingual IssueCentral Asian Frontier FinanceSecurity Printing HistoryChinaSinkiangSouth Sinkiang1915R9 Extremely RareUniqueMuseum GradePick Unlisted

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Commercial Banking Company of Sydney LIMITED £5 proof, circa 1905–1910, PMG 63 EPQ

Australia 1905–1910 - Commercial Banking Company of Sydney LIMITED £5 Specimen Proof (Pick Unlisted)

Bradbury Wilkinson’s master plates reflect the mature internationalisation of security printing. By 1905–1910, Australian banks increasingly relied on London engravers for their highest-grade notes, as BWC offered complex tint-stone methods, deep intaglio capability, and anti-counterfeiting technologies unattainable in most colonial print shops. These proof specimens were the pinnacle of that relationship, produced in tiny numbers for board approval, archival retention, or printer-client authentication. Read more →

AustraliaSpecimen Proof19055 PoundsPMG 63 EPQ (Top Pop) Specimen5 PoundsSpecimen ProofProofPick UnlistedCommercial Banking Company of Sydney LimitedBradbury WilkinsonBWCLarge SizePre-FederationColonial SpecimenEngraved Security PrintingAustralian Private BanknotesSydney Banking HistorySecurity Printing HistoryEdwardian DesignBritish Engraving InfluenceTransition to Commonwealth CurrencyEarly 20th Century BankingAustralian Monetary HistoryAustraliaSydney190519101905–1910PMG 63 EPQTop PopMuseum GradeR8 Extremely Rare

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New Zealand 1870–1890 Bank of New Zealand 1 Pound Green Specimen Pick S191s, dual serial numbers A197001 and B047000, perforated CANCELLED, Bradbury Wilkinson printing, PMG 58 Choice About Uncirculated

New Zealand 1870–1890 - Bank of New Zealand £1 Green Specimen (Pick S191s)

The visual composition reflects both identity and function. The paired Māori figures at left represent one of the earliest sustained uses of indigenous portraiture on British Empire currency, while the coastal vignette beneath-depicting maritime activity-anchors the note within New Zealand’s trade-dependent economy. Dense guilloche work, layered engraving, and ornamental borders provided both aesthetic complexity and anti-counterfeiting security. Read more →

New ZealandSpecimen18701 PoundPMG 58 Choice About Uncirculated Specimen1 PoundBank of New ZealandBradbury WilkinsonBWCDual Serial NumbersA197001B047000Perforated CANCELLEDAudit MarginPrinter Control SystemColonial IssueVictorian DesignMāori Portrait SeriesEngraved Security PrintingNew Zealand Banking HistoryPrivate Banknote EraPre-Reserve BankBNZ Color LineageColor Lineage Origin19th Century OceaniaMaritime Economy NotesEarly Indigenous ImageryBritish Colonial FinanceHistoryNew Zealand187018901870–1890Pick S191sPMG 58Choice About UncirculatedMuseum GradeR7 Extremely Rare

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Argentina 1867 Banco de Londres y Rio de la Plata 4 Reales Plata Boliviana proof, PCGS 63

Argentina 1867 - Banco de Londres y Rio de la Plata 4 Reales Plata Boliviana Proof (Pick S1734p)

Produced in classic 19th-century proof format, the note displays wide margins, crisp engraving lines, and lacks signatures or serial numbers, confirming its archival status rather than an issued example. Such proofs were retained by the printer or provided to the client bank for approval before mass production. The craftsmanship demonstrates the influence of the American Bank Note Company’s New York studio, which was instrumental in introducing advanced intaglio printing and anti-counterfeiting design to South America. Read more →

ArgentinaProof18674 RealesPCGS 63 Choice New Pick S1734p4 RealesProofABNCAmerican Bank Note CompanyBanco de Londres y Rio de la PlataRosarioBritish-Argentine BankingEngraved Security PrintingMoneda Boliviana StandardPre-Decimal ArgentinaTransitional CurrencyLivestock EconomyCattle Trade SymbolismProvincial Banking19th Century ArgentinaFrontier Monetary HistoryArgentina1867Choice NewMuseum GradeR7 Extremely Rare

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Libya 1971 Central Bank of Libya 10 Dinars specimen with Omar al Mukhtar portrait, red specimen overprint, zero serial controls, final approved design state, PMG 58 EPQ

Libya 1971 - Central Bank of Libya 10 Dinars Specimen (Omar al-Mukhtar Portrait, Pick 37s)

The note was printed using established high-security intaglio techniques, with carefully balanced ink relief to preserve portrait detail under circulation conditions while maintaining durability at production speed. Multi-stone underprints provide tonal depth and counterfeit resistance, consistent with international security printing standards of the period. Read more →

LibyaSpecimen197110 DinarsPMG 58 Choice About Uncirculated Exceptional Paper Quality (Top Population) Specimen BanknoteFinal Plate ApprovalPre Issue DistributionZero Serial ControlSpecimen OverprintOmar al MukhtarAnti Colonial IconographyPost Monarchy Currency ReformLibyan Arab RepublicCentral Bank of LibyaLibya19711971–1972Pick 37sPick 37Exceptional Paper QualityTop PopMuseum GradeR9 Extremely RareUnique

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Great Britain Derby Bank £5 proof, circa 1806–1812, engraved private bank issue payable via Samuel Smith & Co., PMG 63 Choice Uncirculated

Great Britain c.1806–1812 - Derby Bank £5 Proof (Pick Unlisted)

The engraved text and layout illustrate early nineteenth-century security philosophy. Instead of relying on standardized printed templates, each bank commissioned bespoke designs featuring elaborate calligraphic lettering, ornamental flourishes, and heraldic devices. The bank crest at left, the sweeping script of the promise-to-pay clause, and the careful balance of negative space were all deliberate countermeasures against forgery at a time when counterfeit detection depended on human familiarity rather than machine verification. Read more →

Great BritainProof18065 PoundsPMG 63 Choice Uncirculated Proof5 PoundsPrivate Bank IssueProvincial BankingEarly British BanknotesNapoleonic War EraBank Restriction PeriodSecurity EngravingCalligraphic DesignPre Standardization CurrencyLondon Correspondent BankingGreat BritainDerby18061806–1812Pick UnlistedMuseum GradeR9 Extremely RareUnique

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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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Brazil 2010 5 Reais Pick 253d, PMG 66 EPQ

Brazil 2010 - Banco Central 5 Reais (Pick 253d)

Catalogued as Pick 253d in the Standard Catalog of World Paper Money, this type formalized earlier unlisted varieties into the recognized numbering system. It belongs to the second-generation Real family, introduced to improve accessibility, fight counterfeiting, and harmonize design language across denominations. Read more →

BrazilIssued Note20105 ReaisPMG 66 EPQ Gem Uncirculated Pick 253dPMG 66 EPQCdM-B2010 SeriesIssued NoteLinked to Pick UnlistedBrazil2010

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East Caribbean States 2019 20 Dollars Pick 57, PMG 68 EPQ

East Caribbean States 2019 - Central Bank 20 Dollars (Pick 57)

Graded PMG 68 EPQ Superb Gem Uncirculated, this note highlights the ECCB’s modernization campaign combining longer note life with enhanced anti-counterfeiting elements. It represents the definitive catalogued version of the earlier unlisted printings. Read more →

East Caribbean StatesIssued Note201920 DollarsPMG 68 EPQ Superb Gem Unc Pick 57PolymerPMG 68 EPQ2019 Series20 dollarsIssued NoteLinked to Pick UnlistedEast Caribbean States2019

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Bahamas 2019 - Central Bank 1/2 Dollar (Pick Unlisted)

The Bahamas introduced the CRISP (Counterfeit Resistant Integrated Security Product) series in the mid-2000s as part of an ongoing modernization of its currency. The 2019 issue marked the completion of the redesign, emphasizing polymer-style security elements, microtext, and color-shift features while retaining the national symbols and maritime themes that define Bahamian design. Read more →

BahamasIssued Note20191/2 DollarPMG 68 EPQ Superb Gem Unc Pick UnlistedPick 76aaPMG 68 EPQPick 76aIssued NoteOF2019 Series1/2 DollarWatermark: Queen & 1/2Bahamas2019

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