Collection PL

Italy 1871 - Germania with Shield and Spear Vignette Die Proof Used for 500 Lire (Pick PS977)

This engraved vignette proof depicting 'Germania with Shield and Spear' was produced by Bradbury, Wilkinson & Co. in London for the Banca Italo-Germanica during the early 1870s. The impression preserves the complete ornamental vignette prepared for the proposed 500 Lire banknote design, including the decorative frame and denomination tablet engraved for integration into the final banknote layout. ... Read more →

Poland 1988 - 50 Złotych Prefix HK Issued Note (Pick 142c)

The 50 Złotych banknote dated 'Warszawa, 1 Grudnia 1988' represents one of the final circulating issues of the Polish People's Republic before the monetary and political transformations of the early 1990s. Printed by Polska Wytwórnia Papierów Wartościowych in Warsaw for the Narodowy Bank Polski, the denomination formed part of the 1986–1988 modernization of the circulating banknote series. The obverse presents the portrait of General Karol Świerczewski, a military figure associated with the communist period of Polish history. ... Read more →

United States 1929 – American Bank Note Company Test Note, 10 Units, Green Series of 1929 With Watermark and Segmented Foil Security Thread

This engraved test note by the American Bank Note Company (ABNCo) represents one of the firm’s most enduring demonstration designs, known as the 'Series of 1929' specimen. Although dated 1929, these were printed decades later-primarily in the 1960s and 1970s-as house proofs and sales samples showcasing engraving precision, watermark technology, and later innovations such as foil-thread anti-counterfeiting devices. The layout follows classic ABNCo symmetry: a central allegorical portrait of Liberty, derived from earlier U.S. ... Read more →

United States 1996 - 100 Dollars Federal Reserve Note Chicago District Insufficient Inking Error (Friedberg 2175-G)

This 1996 100 Dollars Federal Reserve Note from the Chicago District (Friedberg 2175-G, AGB Block) presents one of the most striking examples of an Insufficient Inking Error recorded on a modern U.S. high-denomination note. The entire reverse is drastically under-inked: the normally bold depiction of Independence Hall appears as a pale, incomplete impression, with architectural outlines faintly visible but lacking depth and saturation. ... Read more →

United States 1988A - 10 Dollars Federal Reserve Note Philadelphia District Insufficient Inking on Face Error (Friedberg 2028-C)

This 1988A 10 Dollars Federal Reserve Note from the Philadelphia District (Friedberg 2028-C, CA Block) exhibits a major Insufficient Inking Error across its face printing. The left and right '10' denomination medallions, top border inscriptions, and parts of the ornamental scrollwork show extreme fading, with many engraved lines barely visible. The green Treasury seal and serial numbers remain sharp and fully inked, confirming that the fault occurred during the black intaglio printing pass, prior to the overprint stage. ... Read more →

United States 1985 - 5 Dollars Federal Reserve Note Cleveland District Insufficient Inking on Back Error (Friedberg 1978-D)

A visually striking Insufficient Inking Error on this 1985 5 Dollars Federal Reserve Note from the Cleveland District (Friedberg 1978-D, DB Block) leaves nearly two-thirds of the reverse design ghosted or missing. The left portion of the intaglio printing-normally displaying the numeral '5,' frame ornamentation, and portions of the Lincoln Memorial vignette-shows only a faint outline where the press failed to transfer adequate ink to the paper. This form of printing error occurs when the intaglio press cylinder is inadequately charged with ink before an impression cycle. ... 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)

Issued by the Departamento de Emision del Banco de la Republica Oriental del Uruguay, this 1939 one peso specimen preserves the completed Serie A form of the lowest denomination in Uruguay's unified interwar banknote series. Printed by Thomas De La Rue and Company Limited, the note carries all-zero serial numbers, the separately printed designation Specimen No. 41, and a black oval printer control stamp identifying it as an official institutional reference example. ... Read more →

United States 1935D - 1 Dollar Silver Certificate Butterfly Fold Error (Friedberg 1613W, IF Block)

This 1935D 1 Dollar Silver Certificate (Friedberg 1613W, IF Block) presents an exceptional Butterfly Fold Error, a visually dramatic mechanical mishap that occurred during the printing process at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. A portion of the note’s corner was inadvertently folded over before printing, causing part of the design to print on the folded flap while leaving a blank triangular void once the paper was unfolded. The result is a note that physically displays the three-dimensional evidence of its own creation error. ... 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 →

Paraguay 1907 - Banco de la República 5 Pesos with 1912 Dual-Side State and Treasury Revalidation Overprint (Pick Unlisted, Base Pick 156)

Uncirculated 1907 Banco de la República 5 Pesos note, printed by Waterlow & Sons, London, and later transformed by the 1912 Paraguayan emergency revalidation process. The note is based on the original 1907 Banco de la República 5 Pesos issue, cataloged as Pick 156, but this dual-side state and Treasury validation format appears to stand outside the standard catalog listing and is therefore best treated as Pick Unlisted, base Pick 156. The face carries the large oval state overprint “Emisión del Estado – Ley de 11 de Enero de 1912,” while the reverse bears the additional Treasury validation “Departamento de Hacienda – Junta Fiscalizadora – Cincuenta Centavos Oro Sellado – Conforme Decreto de 20 de Mayo 1912.” This dual-side structure places the note among the most historically informative forms of Paraguay’s 1912 provisional paper money. ... Read more →

Paraguay 1907 - Banco de la República 5 Pesos with 1912 State Overprint (Pick 127, Base Pick 156)

Choice Uncirculated 1907 Banco de la República 5 Pesos note, printed by Waterlow & Sons, London, and later revalidated as part of Paraguay’s 1912 emergency state emission. The note is cataloged as Pick 127, created by applying the large oval face overprint “Emisión del Estado – Ley de 11 de Enero de 1912” to the original 1907 Banco de la República 5 Pesos base type, Pick 156. This is the standard cataloged 5 Pesos state-overprint issue and the direct counterpart to the larger 100 Pesos Pick 134 overprint on base Pick 159. ... Read more →