Collection PL

United States 1929 - 5 Dollars Type 1 National Bank Note - The Thomas County National Bank of Colby, Kansas Charter 13076 (Friedberg 1800-1)

The note follows the standard small-size Type 1 national design with Abraham Lincoln’s engraved portrait at center, flanked by bold denomination counters and the brown Treasury seal at right. The blue charter number '13076' appears vertically at both margins, while serial F004065A and red-brown overprint connect it to Colby’s 1929 issue block. The printed facsimile signatures of cashier N. Reimers and president W. D. Ferguson confirm its authenticity and continuity with the bank’s leadership also seen on its earlier 1902 issues and later 1944 correspondence. Read more →

Uruguay 1939 - Departamento de Emision del Banco de la Republica Oriental del Uruguay 1 Peso Serie A Photographic Proof Pair (Pick Unlisted)

At right appears the engraved portrait of Jose Gervasio Artigas, Uruguay's principal national hero and the central symbolic figure of the denomination. His military dress, firm expression, and carefully modeled features create a portrait of authority and historical continuity. The photographic proof preserves the portrait in monochrome, making the underlying engraved line structure, tonal modeling, and relationship to the surrounding security ornament especially clear. Read more →

Uruguay 1939 - Departamento de Emision del Banco de la Republica Oriental del Uruguay 1 Peso Serie A Specimen, Specimen No. 41 (Pick 35as)

At the center appears a finely engraved portrait of Jose Gervasio Artigas in military dress. Artigas is presented with a direct, composed expression, his uniform and cloak modeled through dense intaglio linework. As Uruguay's principal national figure, his portrait connects the everyday monetary instrument with the country's foundational political history and the republican ideals associated with national independence. Read more →

Uruguay 1939 - Departamento de Emision del Banco de la Republica Oriental del Uruguay 50 Pesos Serie A Photographic Proof Pair, Dated 28 November 1956 (Pick Unlisted)

The large open oval at left corresponds to the watermark area of the production note and provides a visual counterweight to the heavily engraved portrait. The photographic proof preserves the intended relationship between the printed design and the paper security structure, allowing the full face layout to be examined as an integrated composition. Read more →

Uruguay 1920 - Bradbury, Wilkinson & Company José Gervasio Artigas Engraved Portrait Die Proof (Reference 192A, Cancelled)

An engraved portrait die proof of José Gervasio Artigas produced by Bradbury, Wilkinson & Company of London for the Republic of Uruguay. Printed in black from a master steel die onto thin India paper and mounted on card, this proof carries the printer identification, country designation, and the internal reference number “192A.” Directly beneath this reference, the word “CANCELLED” appears as a printed, typeset element, indicating formal cancellation at the printer level. Read more →

United States 1928G - 2 Dollars Legal Tender Note Red Seal Star Replacement (Friedberg 1508*)

The 1928 series marked a pivotal design transition in American paper money. For the first time, the small-size format standardized dimensions across all denominations while preserving key artistic elements from the large-size issues. Thomas Jefferson’s engraved portrait, derived from Gilbert Stuart’s neoclassical rendering, dominates the face, flanked by intricate lathe-work and geometric scroll patterns. The bright red Treasury seal and serials create a dramatic contrast against the black intaglio engraving, establishing the iconic 'red seal' aesthetic that became synonymous with Legal Tender Notes for decades. Read more →

Argentina 1876 - Banco de San Juan 5 Pesos Fuertes Central Portrait Vignette (Bradbury Wilkinson and Company)

This engraved portrait vignette die proof was produced by Bradbury, Wilkinson & Co., London, for the Banco de San Juan 5 Pesos Fuertes issue of 1876. The vignette depicts a classical female figure wearing a wreath and draped garment, engraved within an oval portrait format. The same portrait appears at the center of the completed Banco de San Juan banknote, where it forms the principal pictorial element of the design. Read more →

Poland 1940 - 10 Zlotych Bank Emisyjny w Polsce Prefix C Kraków Issue Approval Specimen (Pick Unlisted)

The reverse design is anchored by the engraved portrait of Fryderyk Chopin, one of the most recognizable figures in Polish cultural history. His presence on the 10 Złotych was not incidental. In the context of occupation, retaining Chopin on a widely used denomination reinforced a familiar intellectual and emotional reference point in daily economic life. Read more →

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

This face proof represents the 10 Pesos issue prepared for the Banco de Londres y Rio de la Plata in 1871. Pulled from the completed face plate during the engraving and plate-approval process, it records the finalized obverse design before serial numbering, circulation signatures, and full production. The piece preserves the technical stage at which the engraved face could be examined for layout, portrait work, lettering, denomination placement, line quality, and overall printing balance. Read more →

Spain 1876 - Banco de España 100 Pesetas Contemporary Counterfeit (Pick 11x)

The counterfeit closely imitates the official Banco de España design, including engraved portraits, allegorical figures, ornamental frames, and serial numbering conventions. While visually convincing, detailed examination reveals deviations in engraving sharpness, line structure, and execution that distinguish the note from official production. These characteristics are consistent with contemporary forgery practices rather than later reproductions. Read more →

South Africa 1861 - Montagu Bank 5 Pounds Remainder (Pick S231r)

The obverse features a finely engraved portrait of John Montagu, framed by elaborate architectural and ornamental elements. Adjacent to the portrait appears a complex security design intended to deter counterfeiting. The scenic vignette depicts a southerly view of Montagu itself, with recognizable local landmarks including the Dutch Reformed Church, the Orphanage, St Mildred’s Anglican Church, Barry’s Trading Store, the Parsonage, and Jouberthuis. This localized imagery transforms the note from a purely monetary instrument into a visual record of the town’s built environment during the mid nineteenth century. Read more →

Uruguay 1939 - Banco de la Republica Oriental del Uruguay 1000 Pesos Specimen, Perforated Cancel, Series A–B (Pick 41as)

The obverse design presents an engraved portrait of José Gervasio Artigas, Uruguay’s foundational national figure, rendered within an ornate architectural framework characteristic of Thomas De La Rue and Company’s late-interwar intaglio production. The denomination MIL PESOS dominates the central cartouche, emphasizing the note’s position at the apex of the denomination hierarchy. This example belongs to the Series A–B grouping and bears a controlled all-zero serial format, consistent with non-circulating specimen preparation. Read more →