South Africa 1828 - Cape of Good Hope Bank 5 Shillings Pre-Issue Sample (Pick S171p)
This five shillings note was prepared as a pre-authorization sample while the bank’s founder, John Bardwell Ebden, awaited official government permission to establish the institution. Such samples were not intended for circulation, but rather served as formal demonstration pieces presented to colonial authorities, prospective shareholders, and financial backers to validate design, denomination structure, and institutional credibility. As a result, this issue was never released into circulation and must be distinguished categorically from later remainders or unissued stock associated with operating banks. Read more →