Collection PL

Italy 1871–1872 — Banca Italo-Germanica 250 Lire Specimen (Pick S976s)

An exceptional and academically important survival from the experimental phase of Italy’s early post-unification banking era, this 250 Lire specimen from the short-lived Banca Italo-Germanica, cataloged as Pick S976s, represents one of the rarest and most ambitious private note-issuing projects attempted in Rome during the 1870s. No issued examples of this type are known to exist, and all scholarship indicates that the bank’s banknote program collapsed before any notes entered circulation, leaving only a microscopic number of presentation pulls, proofs, or internal printer’s archive sheets. This PMG 64 Choice Uncirculated example is the sole graded specimen in the PMG census, making it both Top Pop and Only Pop. ... Read more →

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

A monumental survivor from Australia’s private banking era, this £100 specimen ranks among the most important colonial-era notes known. Printed circa 1880–1910 for the Commercial Bank of Australia Limited, it represents the uppermost denomination produced under the private-issue system that existed before the Commonwealth took full control of note issuance in 1910. No issued examples of this £100 are believed to have survived, making specimens the only remaining documentation of the type. ... Read more →

Paraguay 1907 — 100 Pesos with 1912 Dual-Signature Dual-Side Overprint Specimen (Pick Unlisted)

Archival specimen of the 1907 Banco de la Republica 100 Pesos (base Pick 159) bearing the emergency overprint 'Emisión del Estado – 11 de Enero de 1912' applied to both face and reverse — a dual-side validation highly unusual for Paraguay’s fiscal issues. Additionally, the note carries the departmental counterstamp 'Departamento de Hacienda – Junta Fiscalizadora' in heavy black ink, confirming its dual-signature fiscal authorization per the decree of 20 May 1912. This overprint configuration diverges from the standard 1912 state revalidations (Pick 134) by combining both governmental and fiscal signatures on opposite sides, creating one of the rarest identifiable archival variants of the period. ... Read more →

Mexico 1884 – Fábrica de Tunal 1 Peso (Pick Unlisted, ABNC)

One of the most sophisticated corporate issues produced in northern Mexico during the Porfiriato modernization period, this fully issued and serialed 1 Peso note from La Fábrica de Tunal represents a hybrid monetary instrument that straddled formal banknote design and private scrip functionality. Unlike the majority of locally lithographed corporate payroll chits of the 1880s, this piece was engraved and printed by the American Bank Note Company in New York—an extremely rare choice for a non-bank issuer and clear evidence of the company's scale and financial ambition. La Fábrica de Tunal operated in the rural industrial zone outside Durango city along the Tunal River, referenced repeatedly in contemporary mining, agricultural, and provincial reports. ... Read more →

Argentina 1883 — Banco de la Provincia de Buenos Aires 2 Pesos Oro Proof (Pick S536fp)

Superb proof engraving prepared by the American Bank Note Company for the Banco de la Provincia de Buenos Aires, dated 19 de Enero de 1883. The design features an equestrian vignette at center symbolizing progress and vitality, flanked by portraits of Florencio Varela and Valentín Alsina, two influential figures in Argentina’s political and intellectual life. Printed directly from ABNC master plates in black ink on thin India paper and mounted on card stock, this piece confirms its pre-issue proof status. ... Read more →

Ireland 1920 — Ulster Bank Ltd. £1 (Proof)

Archival proof for Ulster Bank Ltd., dated 1920. Printed by Waterlow & Sons, London, the note displays finely executed allegories and maritime motifs, reflecting both classical design and national symbolism in the early 20th century. The Waterlow imprint remains visible in the margin, a hallmark of genuine proofs. ... Read more →

North Macedonia 1996 — 5000 Denari Specimen (Pick 19s) Maenad EA0000000 No. 006

This official printer specimen of the 5000 Denari belongs to the inaugural post-independence banknote series of the Republic of Macedonia, introduced in 1996 by the National Bank of the Republic of Macedonia. The series was produced by Thomas De La Rue & Company Limited of London, whose security printing program established the technical and visual identity of the country’s modern currency. The note preserves the full design of the circulating denomination while being permanently invalidated through De La Rue’s specimen control procedures. ... Read more →

North Macedonia 1996 — 500 Denari Specimen (Pick 17s) Golden Death Mask GA0000000 No. 006

This official De La Rue printer specimen records the finalized design of the 500 Denari denomination from the Republic of Macedonia’s inaugural post-independence banknote series issued in 1996. Prepared for internal verification and institutional reference, the specimen preserves the complete production artwork while being permanently invalidated for monetary use. The note displays the full set of Thomas De La Rue & Company specimen control devices. ... Read more →

New Zealand 1967 — 100 Dollars (Pick 168as, Fleming Signature, TDLR Overprint Specimen, Serial G000000009, Specimen No. 9, PMG 64 Choice Uncirculated)

The 1967 one hundred dollars specimen represents the inaugural issue of New Zealand’s decimal currency system at its highest denomination, issued during the ND (1967–1968) period under the signature of Roderick Ninian Fleming as Chief Cashier. Fleming’s tenure was limited to the opening phase of decimalization, making his signature exclusive to the earliest production window of the new monetary system. Printed by Thomas De La Rue & Company, London, this specimen was prepared for formal distribution to central banks and institutional archives. ... Read more →

New Zealand 1967 — 100 Dollars (Pick 168as, Fleming Signature, Perforated SPECIMEN OF NO VALUE, Serial G000000, PMG 64 Choice Uncirculated)

The 1967 one hundred dollars perforated specimen represents the highest denomination of New Zealand’s inaugural decimal currency issue, produced during the ND (1967–1968) period under the signature of Roderick Ninian Fleming as Chief Cashier. Fleming’s tenure was limited to the opening phase of decimalization, making his signature exclusive to the earliest production window of the modern dollar system. Printed by Thomas De La Rue & Company, London, this specimen belongs to the internal archival class rather than the externally distributed presentation format. ... Read more →

New Zealand 1975 — 100 Dollars (Pick 168bs, R.L. Knight Signature, Perforated SPECIMEN OF NO VALUE, Serial G000000000, PMG 64 Choice Uncirculated)

The 1975 one hundred dollars perforated specimen represents the highest denomination of New Zealand’s decimal currency during the tenure of R.L. Knight as Chief Cashier, issued within the ND (1975–1977) period. Knight’s signature defines the third phase of the decimal era, following the Fleming and Wilks periods, and reflects a stage in which the currency system had reached structural maturity. ... Read more →

Barbados 1959 — Government of Barbados Treasury Bill, Photographic Proof (Early Design Stage)

This photographic proof records an early design form of a Government of Barbados Treasury Bill prepared under the Treasury Bills (Local) Act of 1922. The proof differs materially in wording, layout, and structure from later issued and specimen Treasury Bills, and represents an earlier design stage within the Barbados treasury bill system. The front displays the full issuer heading “Government of Barbados Treasury Bill” and a legal obligation clause stating payment “to bearer out of the General Revenue and Assets of Barbados.” This formulation is not identical to the wording used on later Treasury Bills and bearer instruments, where the obligation language is more compact and standardized. ... Read more →