Collection PL

Poland 1919 — 1000 Złotych Unissued Note (Pick 59a)

The 1000 złotych of the 1919 reform series, printed by Waterlow & Sons in London, is one of the largest and most ornate denominations prepared for the new złoty. Intended as part of the first złoty issue of the Second Republic, it was never officially released into circulation in 1924 due to its very high value. Some researchers suggest that a portion of the stock may have been used informally during the September Campaign of 1939 to pay Polish military officers, though no formal documentation confirms this. ... Read more →

Poland 1940 — 10 Złotych Printing Remnants Forgery Workshop Underprint (Miłczak 94)

Fascinating semi-finished product from a wartime forgery workshop, connected with the 10 złotych 1940 issue (Miłczak 94). The piece is printed only with the underprint of the obverse design — background guilloches and the female allegorical portrait at left — without the main face value, overprints, or full intaglio elements. Trimmed to the correct banknote format, it represents an intermediate stage in the counterfeiting process. ... Read more →

Poland 1940 — 500 Złotych, Series A with Counterfeit Numbering (Pick 98a)

Original 500 złotych note of 1 March 1940 issued by the Bank Emisyjny w Polsce, Series A, with numbering that falls into the ranges later associated with diversionary forgeries. This note is genuine, but its serial begins within the counterfeit sequences (12xxxxx and 13xxxxx), making it an extremely rare survivor of the group later ordered withdrawn. During the German occupation, large numbers of forged 500 złotych notes were introduced into circulation as part of diversionary sabotage. ... Read more →

Poland 1941 — 1 Złoty, Uncut Sheet of 3 Notes with Serial Numbers (Pick 99b)

Uncut sheet of three 1 Złoty notes printed by the Emission Bank in 1941, Series BE. Each note bears its complete serial number sequence — a rare feature for surviving production materials from the wartime period. Two perforation control holes and a red diagonal cancellation mark across the center indicate withdrawal during the printer’s inspection phase. ... Read more →

Poland 1940 — 20 Złotych, Series N WWII London Counterfeit (Pick 95b)

20 złotych dated 1 March 1940, issued under the Bank Emisyjny w Polsce during the German occupation, here from Series N — a rarer subtype known as the 'WWII London Counterfeit' (LC). This variety is recognized by its distinct olive-toned underprint, setting it apart from the more common genuine emissions. PMG has described this piece as a diversionary counterfeit, aligning it with the series of clandestine productions created to destabilize the wartime Polish economy. ... Read more →

Poland 1940 — 500 Złotych Series B Unfinished Print Fragment (Pick 98)

Unfinished print fragment of the 500 złotych issue dated 1 March 1940, produced for the Bank Emisyjny w Polsce under German occupation. Cut from a printer’s sheet, this piece is classed as 'makulatura' (waste print) in printing terminology, representing a rare survival of the production process. The obverse carries only two layers of underprint with a double application of series and serial number, but lacks the steel-engraved main design. ... Read more →

Austria 1800 — Wiener Stadt Banco 1 Gulden Issued Note (Pick A29a)

An issued 1 Gulden Banco-Zettel dated 1800 from the Wiener Stadt Banco, catalogued as Pick A29a. This denomination represents the foundation level of Austria’s first large-scale fiduciary paper money system, introduced in 1796 to stabilize state finances during prolonged military conflict and fiscal strain at the end of the eighteenth century. The 1 Gulden occupied a central role in everyday commerce across the Habsburg lands. ... Read more →

Great Britain 1997 — Thomas De La Rue 100 Units Test Note Portal Watermark

A rare Thomas De La Rue test note, issued as a demonstration piece rather than circulating currency. Dated ND (1997), this 100 Units note was printed to showcase De La Rue’s advanced banknote security design, incorporating microtext, guilloche patterns, and the portal watermark. The obverse features a portrait of Thomas De La Rue with multicolor lathework and the company’s headquarters vignette. ... Read more →

Uruguay 1862 — Banco de Londres y Rio de la Plata 100 Pesos Remainder (Pick S245r)

Few notes capture the working side of 19th-century banknote production like this 1862 100 Pesos remainder. Printed by Bradbury, Wilkinson & Co. for the Banco de Londres y Rio de la Plata but never signed or issued, it remains an untouched example of Uruguay’s first major British-engraved currency design. ... Read more →

Ireland — Northern 2005 — Northern Bank £50 Replacement Prefix YY (Pick 208)

Replacement note for the 2005 Northern Bank £50 issue, printed by Thomas De La Rue, bearing the distinct 'YY' prefix used exclusively for replacement sheets following the 2004 Belfast vault robbery. These notes were part of the emergency replacement program that saw all pre-robbery stock withdrawn and destroyed, with new serial ranges produced under enhanced security oversight. Featuring the portrait of Sir Samuel Cleland Davidson (1846–1921), inventor and industrialist, the design celebrates Northern Ireland’s engineering legacy. ... Read more →

North Macedonia 1996 — 5000 Denari Photographic Transparency Essay (Maenad Vignette)

This photographic transparency records the engraved Maenad vignette prepared during the design development of the Republic of Macedonia’s inaugural 5000 Denari banknote. Created within the pre-press workflow of Thomas De La Rue & Company Limited in London, the transparency preserves the original engraved image before the design progressed into plate production and full banknote printing. In modern security printing, photographic transparencies were produced after the engraver completed the steel die but before the design was transferred to printing plates. ... Read more →

New South Wales 1865 — Embossed 'ONE HALF PERCENT' Stamp Duty Fiscal Proof Specimen

This archival embossed proof was prepared for the Treasury of the Colony of New South Wales in 1865 as part of the design approval process for official stamp duty revenue paper. The piece displays the crowned colonial arms surrounded by a laurel wreath with the inscription 'ONE HALF PERCENT', executed in colourless embossing and framed by printer’s blue layout guide lines with a printed 'Specimen' designation. Unlike adhesive revenue stamps, this form of fiscal authentication was produced as embossed security paper intended to validate legal and financial documents. ... Read more →