Collection PL

Poland 1994 — 50 Złotych Front Proof (Pick 175ap1)

The definitive front proof of the 1994 50 Złotych issue, this sheet represents the final approved obverse design prepared by Thomas De La Rue for Narodowy Bank Polski during Poland’s post-communist monetary reform. Executed as an internal production proof, it preserves the complete engraved obverse exactly as authorized for issue, prior to serial numbering and reverse printing. The design features the portrait of King Kazimierz III Wielki (Casimir the Great), rendered in De La Rue’s modern intaglio style and integrated into a complex guilloche framework reflecting European security-printing standards of the early 1990s. ... Read more →

Poland 1994 — 50 Złotych Remainder (Pick 175ar Miłczak 198a–b)

Remainder of the 50 złotych note issued by Narodowy Bank Polski within the first fully modern banknote series of the Third Republic, dated 25 March 1994. This example represents production-stage material retained outside the finalized circulation workflow and is cataloged as Pick 175ar, corresponding to Miłczak 198a–b. The note preserves the complete printed design prepared by Thomas De La Rue, London, including the portrait of King Kazimierz III Wielki (Casimir the Great), the integrated guilloche structures, and the finalized denomination and emblematic layout of the modernized Polish currency system. ... Read more →

Poland 1994 50 Zlotych Approval Specimen Without Overprints AR Prefix (Pick Unlisted)

This example documents the use of a previously unrecorded AR prefix on a known approval specimen type of the 50 zlotych banknote from the 1994 Polish issue. The note is a fully printed approval specimen produced by Thomas De La Rue in London for the National Bank of Poland as part of the formal approval process for the final design intended for circulation. It retains the complete structure of the emission design, corresponding to the version that subsequently entered regular production. ... Read more →

Poland 1994, 50 Zlotych Specimen with Red Overprint & Oval Stamp AR Prefix (Pick Unlisted)

This AR-prefix specimen is a fully printed presentation example of the 50 zlotych banknote from Poland’s 1994 series, prepared by Thomas De La Rue for controlled institutional use. The note preserves the complete production design corresponding to the issued banknote and carries serial number AR0000000 together with the official signatures of the National Bank of Poland. A bold red diagonal SPECIMEN overprint spans the face of the note and is accompanied by two red oval NO VALUE stamps applied in the standard De La Rue format. ... Read more →

Poland 1994, 50 Zlotych Specimen with Perforated 'SPECIMEN OF NO VALUE' AR Prefix (Pick Unlisted)

This AR-prefix specimen is a fully printed 50 zlotych banknote from Poland’s 1994 series, permanently cancelled by a large perforated inscription reading “SPECIMEN OF NO VALUE” across the portrait of King Casimir III the Great. The perforation represents a terminal archival control form prepared by Thomas De La Rue and retained for internal documentation and security reference. The banknote preserves the complete production design corresponding to the issued currency, including serial number AR0000000 and the official signatures of the National Bank of Poland. ... Read more →

Luxembourg 1970 — 100 Francs Archival Gridlines Calibration Specimen (Pick 56s, Serial D170001)

Archival calibration specimen of the 1970 one hundred francs issue of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, produced during the Belgian Luxembourg Economic Union period and printed by Thomas De La Rue & Company, London. Unlike standard specimen notes bearing placeholder serials, this example carries a live production-format serial number D170001, linking it directly to an active print batch within the manufacturing process. Across the full surface, original blue registration gridlines remain visible. ... Read more →

New Zealand 1934 — Reserve Bank of New Zealand 10 Shillings Issued Note (Pick 154)

The 10 Shillings banknote issued on 1 August 1934 forms part of the first national paper money series produced for the Reserve Bank of New Zealand after its establishment under the Reserve Bank Act of 1933. The creation of the Reserve Bank replaced the fragmented system of private trading bank notes with a unified national currency, marking a major milestone in the country’s monetary history. This inaugural series is widely known as the "Lefeaux series", named after Leslie Lefeaux, the first Governor of the Reserve Bank whose printed signature appears on the notes. ... 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 1939 — Banco de la Republica Oriental del Uruguay 50 Pesos Perforated Specimen (Pick 38s)

Specimen of the 50 Pesos dated 22 January 1939 for the Departamento de Emision del Banco de la Republica Oriental del Uruguay, printed by Thomas De La Rue, London. This specimen carries the red ESPECIMEN overprint, perforated cancellation word at right, and multiple circular punch holes used by De La Rue for printer file control. Serial 00000000, Series C. ... Read more →

Uruguay 1939 (ND 1967) — Banco de la Republica Oriental del Uruguay 50 Pesos Specimen, Red Overprint, Serie D (Pick 42As)

Specimen of the 50 Pesos dated 22 January 1939, reauthorized for Banco Central del Uruguay under the ND 1967 release. Printed by Thomas De La Rue with unchanged design and updated issuer legend. Serial D 000000-2, watermark J. ... 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 →

Fiji 1942 — 1 Pound Government of Fiji Overprint on New Zealand £1 (Pick 45c)

This one pound note issued for Fiji in 1942 was created by overprinting an existing Reserve Bank of New Zealand £1 note originally dated 1 August 1934. The base note was printed by Thomas De La Rue & Company in London for circulation in New Zealand, but during the Second World War it was adapted for emergency use within the British colony of Fiji. In early 1942 Japanese military expansion across the Pacific severely disrupted supply lines throughout the British colonial network. ... Read more →