Collection PL

Australia 1880–1910 - Commercial Bank of Australia £100 Specimen (Pick Unlisted)

The central vignette features an allegorical figure of Commerce, holding a caduceus and globe, framed by intricate lathe-work and industrial motifs representing trade, manufacturing, and the expansion of colonial wealth. The vertical inscriptions in both Chinese and English remain one of the most unusual design choices of any 19th-century Australian note. The Chinese inscription reads '新金山金媽士銀行', literally identifying the institution as the 'New Goldfields' or 'New Gold Mountain Commercial Bank', with '金媽士' functioning as a Cantonese phonetic rendering of 'commercial'. The opening characters '新金山', New Gold Mountain, were a Chinese name associated with Victoria and Australia during the gold-rush era, distinguishing the Australian goldfields from the earlier 'Gold Mountain' of California. Read more →

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 →

New Zealand 1905-1916 - Bank of New Zealand £1 Red with Serial Number Prefix G000001-G100000 Cancelled Perforation Specimen (Pick S212bs)

The design reflects mature Edwardian engraving practice, featuring paired Māori figures, a coastal trade vignette, and dense lathe work in the ONE panel, directly evolving from the earlier £5 Orange (Pick S192s) and £10 Brown (Pick S193s) specimens. Read more →

Bolivia 1903 - Banco Agricola 5 Bolivianos Front Progressive Proof and Back Proof Pair (Pick S102pp1, S102p2)

The front is especially important because it documents an intermediate stage of the printing process. The main engraved framework, denomination panels, institutional lettering, border work, and principal vignettes are already present, while the design still shows the layered character of progressive proofing. Three large red CANCELLED overprints are applied across the face, marking the piece as controlled non-issue production material and forming one of the most visually distinctive features of the proof. 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 1 Peso Fuerte Specimen (Pick S1880s)

The design reflects early British export engraving for Latin America. Bradbury Wilkinson employed refined lathe-work borders, dense guilloché structures, and a central condor vignette, a powerful regional symbol associated with vigilance, sovereignty, and the Andean frontier. The choice of imagery reinforced provincial identity while the technical execution projected credibility in regions where confidence in paper money depended heavily on perceived printing authority. Read more →

Argentina 1876 - Banco de San Juan 5 Pesos Fuertes Specimen (S1881s)

The engraving reflects Bradbury Wilkinson’s mature export style for Latin American provincial banks. At center, a classical female allegory embodies republican ideals and stability; flanking vignettes incorporate native fauna and the provincial coat of arms, asserting regional identity within a federal framework. Dense lathe-work borders, layered guilloché fields, and crisp intaglio linework demonstrate security printing standards far beyond the capacity of local printers, reinforcing confidence in paper money issued far from the capital. Read more →

United States 1934 - New Jersey 10 Dollars County of Atlantic School Scrip Specimen (November 1 Issue)

The obverse is executed in bold red engraved security printing by E. A. Wright Bank Note Company of Philadelphia, a prominent American printer of municipal and financial instruments. The design features an ornate guilloche border, clear identification of the County of Atlantic and the State of New Jersey, and a large central denomination cartouche reading TEN DOLLARS. The reverse is dominated by a complex radial lathe-work medallion, a professional anti-counterfeiting device consistent with established security printing standards rather than ad hoc local production. Read more →

United States 1935 - New Jersey 1 Dollar Borough of Palmyra Municipal Scrip Specimen (General Obligation)

The obverse is executed in blue engraved security printing by E. A. Wright Bank Note Company of Philadelphia, a major American printer of municipal and financial instruments. The design features dense wave-pattern lathe work, dual ornamental SCRIP cartouches, and a recessed central denomination panel reading ONE DOLLAR. The issuer is clearly identified as the Borough of Palmyra, Burlington County, New Jersey, leaving no ambiguity as to municipal responsibility. Read more →

Uruguay 1870 - El Banco Franco Platense 20 Pesos Dos Doblones Issued Note (Pick S173a)

The reverse is printed in orange with elaborate guilloche and medallion devices surrounding the denomination VEINTE and the issuing bank name. The intricate lathe work reflects American Bank Note Company security engraving standards of the era. Read more →

Argentina 1869 - Banco Domingo Garbino, 1 Peso Fuerte Issued Note with Red Overprint (Pick S1802)

The base design reflects ABNC's late-1860s export engraving style. A central horse-head vignette is flanked by a youthful female portrait at left and an industrial allegorical vignette at right. Blue underprint denomination panels, ornate border engraving, fine lathe-work, and detailed vignette cutting demonstrate the security-printing methods used by the American Bank Note Company for provincial Latin American banking institutions. Read more →

Argentina 1869 - Banco Domingo Garbino, 5 Pesos Fuertes Issued Note with Red Overprint (Pick S1803)

The base printing displays ABNC's early post-Civil-War engraving style: a vigilant dog guarding a strongbox at top center, allegorical female figures, and deep green lathe-work executed with the precision associated with American Bank Note Company export production. Fine ornamental borders, denomination counters, portrait engraving, and layered green security printing complete the design. Read more →