Europe

Austria 1 krone 1922 Tiny red on white Uniface P73 Simple design Unc

Although this large 1000 kronen note bears the date 1902, it was actually issued in 1919 (P59) At the end of the First World War, the Austrian Hungarian Empire was broken up and Austria became an independent Republic. They are densely engraved in blue. The front has a young girl in a frame with garlands of flowers in her hair. A crowned double headed eagle is at the centre. The back is the same with the addition of an overprint in red of Deutscheossterriech alongside. Available here in Crisp GEF/Unc.

Belarus 20,000 roubles 2000 P31e Green on white View towards city/ Large building Unc

Belarus 50 roubles 2000 P25a Pink Gateway/ Monument Unc

A scarce set of notes issued by the local authorities in Meulebeke, Belgium during World War II. The denominations are 1f, 5f, 10f and 20f and they are dated 11-6-1940. Each has the rubber stamp of the City on the back, when they were used they rubber stamped the name of the Burgemeester. They also have a pin hole in the centre which is from the spindle where they were put when redeemed. Without the signature and pin hole they were not valid. One set sold at an auction in Belgium recently for EUR300 (around £260). We had never seen them before but we managed to buy a small quantity of these notes recently and are able to offer them to our customers at a huge saving. They are very interesting notes and quite attractive given the circumstances under which they were printed. Get yours while stocks last.

Croatia 100,000 dinara 1993 P27 Turquoise green on white Boskovic at l and geometric diagrams/Statue of seated woman. Unc

During the Second World War, Croatia was under German Occupation. Notes were issued for the duration and this 1000 kuna note is from that series (P4) It is dated 1941 and is available in Very Fine- Good Very Fine condition. It’s densely engraved with a young girl to the left. Security features include thick fibres scattered randomly.

Croatia 50,000 dinara 1996 P26 Red Boskovic at l and mathematical diagram at r/ Monument Unc

It’s not often you get the chance to include colour trials in your banknote collection. This is because they are rarely available to the collector market. They tend to remain with the printers or are destroyed. These colour trials from Croatia, I think you will agree are pretty exotic What are colour trials? Well, as their name implies they are trial printings of banknotes done on paper or in colours that are not adopted for the final issued printing. The trials we have on offer were prepared for Croatian banknotes issued in 1993. They are printed on one side only showing either the front or the back. Many of the trials for the reverse show an incomplete printing stage. Our collection contains 10 different pieces including the fronts and backs of the 200, 500 and 1000 kuna which in issued form are very expensive. Also included are the fronts and backs of the 5 and 20 kuna. Illustrations include prominent citizens from the past and important buildings. This fabulous Croatian Colour Trial Collection comprising 10 pieces, a real talking point.

Cyprus £1 1978 P43c Brown on white Sculpted ring at l and Arms and map of island at r/ Avenue of arches and columns. Unc

A wonderful Test note issued by De la Rue Giori and depicting Johannes Gutenberg, the 15th century inventor of the printing press with moveable type. This invention is regarded as one of the most significant ever, ushering in, as it did, an era of mass communication. This Uniface Test note has a portrait of Gutenberg to the left and a hologram to the right. Crisp Uncirculated at £8.50.

Germany joined the Euro and abandoned issuing banknotes in its own name. These Uncirculated 5 marks are dated 1991 and are the last issued by Germany. (P37) The front features a portrait of Bettina von Armin. She was born in 1785 and died in 1859. She was famous amongst other things as a writer, publisher, composer, visual artist and social activist. A view of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin is on the back. Crisp Uncirculated.

France 50 francs 1993-7 P157 Blue and m/c St Exupery and map of his journey to Africa/Early plane and Little Prince Unc

France abandoned its own currency when it joined the Eurozone in 2002. The last 500 francs to be issued featured portraits of Pierre and Marie Curie, famous for their work on radium, and between them recipients of several Nobel Prizes (P160) Dated 1994-5, the front has their conjoined portrait and a laboratory scene is on the back. A thick silver segmented security thread is also prominent. We can offer this impressive note in several grades VF and Unc Limited availability.

After the French Revolution, a new currency, known as Assignats was introduced. This currency was backed by land taken from the aristocracy rather than the usual silver and gold. We offer examples of the 100 francs issued in 1795 (PA78) They are simple aff airs, originally printed in sheets, in black and white on one side only. Limited availability in Fine condition.

It’s been a very long time since we have been able to offer any examples of the 25 sols Assignat issued in January 1792 at the start of the French Revolution (PA55). Instead of being backed by more traditional precious metals, this assignat currency was backed by land confi scated from the French aristocracy. They are small simple aff airs printed on one side only in black on white. Illustrations include an all seeing eye and a rooster holding a banner with the famous revolutionary cry of Liberte, Fraternite and Egalite (Liberty, Fraternity and Equality) Grading at least GVF.

After the French Revolution, a whole new currency was introduced backed by land seized by the aristocracy rather than the more conventional precious metals, They are known generally as assignats and are simple aff airs in black on white and uniface. These 5 livres were created according to the new calendar which was introduced on the 10 Brumaire de l’an 2eme which translates as 1793 (PA76) We offer this revolutionary 18th century note in VG- Fine and F-VF.

France Assignat 5 livres 1793 PA76 Black on white Uniface F-Good Fine

France Assignat 5 livres 1793 PA76 Black on cream. Uniface. Embossed seal with angel at l. VG-F

This French 200 francs which was issued in the 1980’s and early 1990’s (P156) Its tapestry like design features Montesquieu, a political philosopher living in the 18th century in the Age of Enlightenment. To the right of his portrait a female figure holding a shield representing L’Esprit des Lois,(The Spirit of the Laws) a work he published anonymously in 1748 and which influenced the Founding Fathers when they drew up the American Constitution. The back features his portrait alongside a view of the Chateau de la Brede where he was born and a statue of Scylla a reference to his publication Persian Letters. Available in Good Fine- VF.

France Assignat 50 sols 1793 PA70 Black on white Uniface. Small Allegorical figures below GEF/Unc

Georgia - 1 million laris banknote from 1994 - red on white. Tiny Griffin design/ with Grapes, in uncirculated condition

Georgia 5 laris P-New Brown Man at r and building in background/Farming vignettes with cattle and wheat garvest etc Unc

As we well know, German suffered runaway inflation in the 1920s as a result of crippling reparation payments after World War 1. These 1 Milliarde notes date from that time (P114). Printed on one side only, they are simple affairs. The milliarde of that time was what we call a billion today - One thousand million marks became one milliarde. We have a limited number of these high denomination notes in Crisp GEF/Unc. We haven’t been able to offer them for quite a long time in such high grade.

Germany 10 marks 1920 P67a Dense engraving in green and brown on cream. Unc