Collection PL

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 →

Mauritius 1839 — Mauritius Commercial Bank 20 Dollars / 4 Pounds Sterling Issued & Cancelled Note (Pick S125)

One of the earliest surviving issued notes of the Mauritius Commercial Bank—the oldest banking institution in the Indian Ocean—this 1839 Twenty Dollar / Four Pounds Sterling note is a foundational artifact of Mauritian monetary history. Issued only one year after the bank’s founding in 1838, it belongs to the first generation of fully functional colonial paper money used on the island. These early issues circulated at a time when coin shortages were severe, and private banknotes became the primary medium of exchange for merchants, plantation owners, and shipping houses. ... Read more →

Mauritius 1842 — Mauritius Commercial Bank 10 Dollars / 2 Pounds Sterling Issued & Cancelled (Pick S122a)

A fully issued, hand-signed, and dated Mauritius Commercial Bank note — one of the earliest known examples of circulating paper money from the island. Dated 2 August 1842, this note bears manuscript signatures, serial numbers, and the characteristic oval CANCELLED stamps applied upon redemption. The engraving by Myers Frs. ... 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 →

Paraguay 1907 — Banco de la Republica 100 Pesos (Pick 159, Issued)

Issued 100 Pesos note of the Banco de la Republica, cataloged as Pick 159 and printed by Waterlow & Sons, London. First released in 1907, it shows the complete undisturbed design: a central public building vignette, strong engine-turned guilloche, and a 100 watermark in the paper. This is the base type on which the later 1912 fiscal overprints were applied, making it the foundation for related specimen and provisional issues. ... Read more →

Poland 1919 (ND 1924) — 100 Złotych Issued Note (Pick 57)

100 Złotych dated 28 February 1919, part of the first złoty issue commissioned by the newly reborn Republic of Poland. Printed by Waterlow & Sons in London, this landmark series replaced the chaotic wartime mark with a stable national currency, reinforcing sovereignty after more than a century of partitions. The obverse features Tadeusz Kościuszko, hero of both Poland and the American Revolution, whose portrait was chosen to embody sacrifice, unity, and independence. ... Read more →

Poland 1919 (ND 1924) — 1 Złoty Issued Note Radar Serial 070070 (Pick 51)

The 1 złoty of 28 February 1919, printed in London by Waterlow & Sons, stands as the inaugural złoty of the reborn Republic of Poland following independence in 1918. It was the lowest denomination of the reform series and among the most widely used, yet it carried enormous symbolic weight: the obverse bears the portrait of Tadeusz Kościuszko, national hero of both Poland and the American Revolution, surrounded by intricate guilloches and the bold legend 'Bank Polski.' Kościuszko’s inclusion underscored the continuity of national identity after more than a century of partitions. This example is further distinguished by its serial number: a radar repeater, 070070 (Series S.26 C), a pattern highly prized by collectors for its symmetry and rarity. ... Read more →

Poland 1919 — 1 Złoty WZÓR „Bez wartości” (Pick 51s)

Specimen of the 1 złoty from the 1919 reform issue, printed by Waterlow & Sons in London and featuring the same Kościuszko portrait as the circulating note. Series S.36 B. This official specimen carries the full set of trial cancellations: diagonal red overprint 'WZÓR.' (with dot) between parallel lines, 'Bez wartości' twice on each side, and two vertical perforations. ... Read more →

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 →

Uruguay 1887 — Banco Nacional de la Republica Oriental del Uruguay 20 Centesimos Issued Note, Serial A029393 (Pick A88a)

This 20 Centesimos note was issued by the Banco Nacional de la Republica Oriental del Uruguay under the monetary framework established on 25 de Agosto de 1887, during a formative period in the consolidation of Uruguay’s national banking authority. Printed in London by Waterlow & Sons, it represents the earliest hand-signed emission phase of the type and corresponds to Pick A88a. The Banco Nacional operated as a principal instrument of monetary stabilization in late nineteenth-century Uruguay, issuing notes convertible into metallic reserves within a structured commercial banking system. ... Read more →

Uruguay 1887 — Banco Nacional de la Republica Oriental del Uruguay 20 Centesimos Issued Note, Serial A053441 (Pick A88a)

This 20 Centesimos note was issued by the Banco Nacional de la Republica Oriental del Uruguay under the monetary framework dated 25 de Agosto de 1887, during a period of structured national banking consolidation. Printed in London by Waterlow and Sons, it belongs to the hand-signed emission classified as Pick A88a and reflects the established production phase prior to mechanized signature adoption. Within the 1887 emission hierarchy, the 20 Centesimos denomination functioned as the fractional transactional unit of the series, circulating widely in daily commerce while retaining full engraved security standards. ... Read more →

Uruguay 1887 — Banco Nacional de la Republica Oriental del Uruguay 20 Centesimos Issued Note, Serial K078922 (Pick A88c)

This 20 Centesimos note was issued by the Banco Nacional de la Republica Oriental del Uruguay under the monetary framework dated 25 de Agosto de 1887, during a phase of institutional consolidation and expanding note production. Printed in London by Waterlow and Sons, this example represents the mechanically signed emission classified as Pick A88c, marking a technical evolution within the same engraved design series. The Banco Nacional functioned as a principal national banking authority in late nineteenth century Uruguay, issuing notes convertible within a metallic-based monetary structure. ... Read more →