Collection PL

New Zealand 1985 — 100 Dollars (Pick 175bs, S.T. Russell Signature, Perforated SPECIMEN OF NO VALUE, Serial YAC000000, PMG 67 EPQ Superb Gem Uncirculated)

The 1985 one hundred dollars perforated specimen represents a highly specialized internal control format from the final paper-currency series of New Zealand, issued within the ND (1985–1989) period under the signature of S.T. Russell as Chief Cashier. This series marks the closing phase of engraved paper production before the transition to polymer substrates. ... Read more →

New Zealand 1992 — 100 Dollars (Pick 181s, Rutherford Design, Vertical Red SPECIMEN Overprint, Printer-Annotated TDLR Specimen, PMG 58 Choice About Uncirculated)

The 1992 one hundred dollars specimen marks the introduction of the Rutherford design and the beginning of New Zealand’s final paper currency series before the transition to polymer. Issued by the Reserve Bank of New Zealand and printed by Thomas De La Rue & Company, London, this note replaces the long-standing Queen Elizabeth II portrait with Lord Ernest Rutherford of Nelson, symbolizing a decisive shift toward national scientific identity within the country’s banknote iconography. This example represents a complex internal printer specimen, combining multiple control and approval features rarely encountered together on a single note. ... Read more →

United States ca. 1960s–70s – American Bank Note Company Test Note, 10 Units, Green Series of 1929 (With Watermark and Segmented Foil Security Thread, PMG 66 EPQ Gem Uncirculated)

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 →