Collection PL

Poland 1936 — 50 Zlotych Reverse Progressive Proof (Pick 78pp2)

Progressive proof of the reverse design for the unissued 1936 50 Zlotych — one of the most advanced and visually ambitious notes ever conceived by the Second Polish Republic. Printed by the Państwowa Wytwórnia Papierów Wartościowych (PWPW) in Warsaw, this sheet captures a transitional stage in the birth of a masterpiece. The reverse artwork was executed under the artistic supervision of Wacław Borowski and engraved by Włodzimierz Vacek, two of the most accomplished figures in pre-war Polish graphic arts. ... Read more →

Great Britain c.1806–1812 — Derby Bank £5 Proof (Pick Unlisted)

A printer’s proof of a £5 note prepared for the Derby Bank during the formative years of British provincial banking, dating to circa 1806–1812. This piece belongs to the critical transitional period between eighteenth-century handwritten credit instruments and the fully industrialized, security-driven banknote production that would dominate the nineteenth century. At the time this proof was produced, Britain’s monetary system was still decentralized. ... Read more →

Italy 1869 — Credito Agricolo della Cassa di Risparmio in Bologna 30 Lire Specimen (Pick Unlisted)

Specimen of the 30 Lire issue from the Credito Agricolo della Cassa di Risparmio in Bologna, produced by Bradbury, Wilkinson & Company during the critical early phase of post-unification Italian financial restructuring. The denomination itself—30 Lire—is highly unconventional and appears directly tied to structured agricultural credit mechanisms rather than standard monetary circulation, reflecting targeted rural financing systems implemented in newly unified Italy. Credito Agricolo institutions operated as specialized credit channels designed to stabilize agricultural production and extend liquidity to rural sectors, where fragmented coinage systems and inconsistent monetary supply remained a persistent issue. ... Read more →

Brazil 2010 — Banco Central 5 Reais (Pick Unlisted, later catalogued as Pick 253d)

Issued 5 Reais note from Banco Central do Brasil, dated 2010, bearing the classic Republica effigy at left and modern Brazilian fauna reverse. Printed by Casa da Moeda do Brasil (CdM-B), this note carries the signatures of E. Guardia and I. ... Read more →

Brazil 1963 — 5 Cruzeiros (Specimen, Pick 176bs, TDLR, Top Pop)

Thomas De La Rue specimen of the 5 Cruzeiros denomination, showing red SPECIMEN overprint, circular punch cancels, and zero serials. Certified PMG 67 EPQ Superb Gem Uncirculated and noted Top Pop, this piece demonstrates the exceptional condition of De La Rue’s retained production samples. The 5 Cruzeiros was the entry-level note in the 1963 issue, combining classic British engraving motifs—crisp guilloche, strong vignette framing, and color separation—with Brazilian iconography. ... Read more →

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

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 →

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 →

New Zealand 1981 — 100 Dollars (Pick 175as, H.R. Hardie Signature, Vertical Perforated SPECIMEN, Black Overprint, Serial YAA000000, Specimen No. 016, PMG 58 Choice About Uncirculated)

The 1981 one hundred dollars specimen represents a later-stage development in New Zealand’s decimal currency specimen formats, issued during the ND (1981–1985) period under the signature of H.R. Hardie as Chief Cashier. This note belongs to the revised Hardie design phase, distinguished by the updated portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, reflecting the mature visual identity of the series. ... 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 →

United States 1902 – 5 Dollars National Bank Note – The Thomas County National Bank of Colby, Kansas (Fr.609, Charter 13076, Error Note, PCGS 64 Very Choice New)

Organized in May 1927, The Thomas County National Bank of Colby, Kansas, was one of the last institutions chartered under the National Banking Act, entering the system just as small-town banks faced increasing consolidation pressures. Chartered as number 13076, it was led by cashier N. Reimers and president W. ... Read more →

Uruguay 1900 — Banco de la Republica Oriental del Uruguay 100 Pesos Photographic Proof Pair, (Pick Unlisted)

An undated photographic proof pair for the 100 Pesos denomination produced by the American Bank Note Company for the Banco de la Republica Oriental del Uruguay. Printed on photographic paper and mounted on cardstock, this pair documents an early twentieth-century design stage preceding later interwar issues, preserved outside the currency production workflow. The obverse presents a formal portrait of José Gervasio Artigas in profile within a dense ornamental framework of laurel and guilloche elements, with the denomination prominently displayed. ... Read more →