...Czech Republic - 100, 500 And 1000 Koruna Provisional Issues 1993 with Adhesive Stamps

Ceska Republika

(The Czech Republic)

Ceska Narodni Banka

(Czech National Bank - ČNB)

Currency - Koruna (CZK)

 

Posted below are three notes of 100, 500 and 1000 koruna all originally printed and issued between 1961 and 1985 during the union of Czechoslovakia. The three banknotes that I have posted here all have an adhesive stamp on the top left corner of the note and are considered as the first three notes issued by the Czech Republic following the breakout that split Czechoslovakia into two nations in 1993.

The dissolution of Czechoslovakia took place on 31.12.1992 when the country split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia. To the locals, this separation is also known as Velvet Divorce, just like the 1989 Velvet Revolution (a.k.a. Gentle Revolution) which ended the country's one-party communist rule. 

 

I believe the discussion for separation by politicians first started in early 1992, despite opinion polls on both sides were in favor of the union to be continued.

 

Following the separation, the old Czechoslovakia koruna continues to be used in both countries, however, the new Czech government was worried that this may cause some forms of economic losses and on 02.02.1993, the government passed a new law to have new banknotes to be issued for the Czech Republic. As a temporary measure until new notes have been printed and issued, the government decided to introduce existing and previously issued Czechoslovakia notes but with an adhesive stamp over them. The three notes below were then released on 08.02.1993 as provisional banknotes until new currency is issued.

 

Whilst we all think that this decision was made after the separation occurred, it was reported that the Czech authority had earlier secretly prepared and printed the adhesive stamps for this purpose well before the separation came into effect. Only three notes were issued with the adhesive stamps but not for other lower denominations. Each stamp is printed with four small Roman letters on all 4 corners and an Arabic numeral in the center identifying the denomination of the banknotes to which it is then affixed to the note - C and 100, D and 500 and M and 1000. Obviously, the Roman numerals represent the value for each note. When these provisional banknotes were issued, each person was allowed to exchange up to 4,000 koruna in value and 1,000 koruna for those 15 years old or below. In 1993, new banknotes with new designs were issued and these three provisional issued notes affixed with adhesive stamps were then withdrawn from circulation on 31.08.1993 and ceased legal tender on 31.05.1994.

 

I am not sure why these three notes were selected for this exercise. I can understand that the government may not want to select notes that have images that are associated with the last communist regime. Given the short notice, the authority may also have to consider the availability of banknotes in stock to cater for public demand. I can understand the selection for the 100 and 1000 koruna notes. but not sure why they selected the 500 koruna note dated 1973. I wonder if the design on the front for the two soldiers are Czech/Slovaks or Russians. It should be noted that since 1951, this is the only 500 koruna note ever printed.

One Hundred Koruna

 

Signature - NA

Watermark - Repeated pattern of stars inside of the leaves

Date - 1961

Dimensions - 165mm x 79mm

Front - A couple of farmers with the woman holding a sheaf of wheat under her left arm. In the center is an Atomic symbol, and below that is a view of a factory and power station with smoke coming out of the two chimneys. For this note, there are a few variations mainly on the watermarks and different adhesive stamps used and different prefixes.

 

Back - A view of Charles Bridge across the Vltava river in Prague. This is a 516 meters long medieval stone arch bridge which was first constructed in 1357 during the reign of King Charles IV. The bridge was originally known as Stone or Prague bridge and since 1870, it has been known as Charles bridge.The design on this note (both front and back) are just beautiful. The note is simple and not overly designed with features, and looking at the back of the notes is like looking at a photo of the bridge in black and white colours. Modern notes are not designed like this anymore due to counterfeiting. This is just my opinion as beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. If you have this in a bigger size, you can hang it up in your living room.

Five Hundred Koruna

 

Signature - NA

Watermark - Stars and leaves

Date - 1973

Dimensions - 153mm x 68mm

Front - Two soldiers both carrying Russian made sub-machine guns PPSh-41. This sub-machine gun was first put into service in 1941 and was intensively used during the last great war as well as the Korean war. To the right are Partisans of the SNP 1944 (Slovak National Uprising). These partisans were formed in 1944 to resist the German's invasion of Slovakia but failed as it only lasted for two months from August to October 1944. Above that is the view of a castle on a hill.

 

Back - The main design for this note is the image of the ruins of Devin Castle, which is located in the city of Bratislava, the capital city of Slovakia. This castle was built around 864 AD. To the bottom left is a medieval shield.

One Thousand Koruna

 

Signature - NA

Watermark - Stars and leaves

Date - 1985

Dimensions - 159mm x 68mm

 

Front - An image of Bedrich Smetana (b.1824-1884) who was a Czech composer. He is widely regarded as the father of Czech music. Flower in the center with the Coat of Arms over it.

 

Back - View of Vltava river with Vysehrad on top of a cliff. Vysehrad is a historical fort in Prague. This fort was built in the 10th century. The Vltava river is the longest river in the Czech Republic.

Collecting this series tends to give me some form of understanding and satisfaction about why banknotes are issued and because of this, I bought this set without hesitation. Getting this set is like getting a piece of the history of the Czech Republic. Instead of overprinting these with text to identify them as new series, the bank decided to place adhesive stamps over it instead. I am not sure why or which one is cheaper or more secure against counterfeiting. This exercise was not against inflationary measures but more of protecting the country's economy. I wonder if there are any pros and cons between the text over print versus adhesive stamp?

 

...Scotland, Bank of Scotland Limited - £20 Polymer Dated 2021 Polymer

Scotland

Bank of Scotland Limited
(Established 17.07.1695, First bank to issue banknote in Scotland)

(part of the Lloyds Banking Group)

Currency : Pound Sterling (GBP)

Here I have the latest 20 pounds polymer note dated 16th August 2021. This series was first issued in early 2020 (dated 1st June 2019). The designs on this note (front and back) are still the same, except for the new date and also the titles of the signatures on the note.

Twenty Pounds

 

Chief Executive Officer - Charles Alan Nunn (since 2021)

Treasurer - Sir Robin Francis Budenbery (since 2021)

Date - 16th August 2021

Dimensions - 140mm x 73.5mm 

 

Front - The face of Sir Walter Scott (b.1771-1832). He was a Scottish novelist, poet and historian. In the center is the Bank of Scotland Headquarters building on The Mound. The building is printed with 9 windows, the front entrance and a dome all with see-through features. These features also act as an anti-counterfeit “window effect”.

 

Back - The main feature is the Forth bridge. In the background you can see Queensferry Crossing bridge. There are three bridges built across the Firth of Forth linking between Edinburgh, at South Queensferry, and Fife, at North Queensferry. The distance between these bridges is about 1 to 1.5 miles. These bridges are Queensferry Crossing bridge (2017), Forth Road bridge (1964) and Forth bridge (1889).

 

 

@71

...Northern Ireland, Danske Bank - £20 Dated 2022 Polymer

Tuaisceart Éireann

(Northern Ireland)

Danske Bank Limited (since 15.11.2012)
Currency : Pound Sterling (GBP)

This is a reprint of the £20 Danske Bank polymer banknote, first introduced on 20.07.2020. This series of polymer notes retains the same designs of the previous paper note issued. 

 

All three commercial banks in Northern Ireland have adopted polymer banknotes series since 2019. Unlike the Bank of Ireland and Ulster Bank, Danske Bank is the only bank that did not issue a £5 polymer note. So far the bank has only introduced the £10 and £20 notes, and it is very unlikely that the £50 or the £100 polymer notes will be introduced either. 

 

Twenty Pounds

Signature - Victoria (Vicky) Davies (tenure 2021-)

Date - Belfast, 25th July 2022

Dimensions - 140mm x 74mm

 

Front - On the front, it features the portrait of Harry Ferguson (b.1884-1960) and a Ferguson tractor. Harry Ferguson was a mechanic and a famous inventor, who is well known for his role in the development of agricultural tractors. 

 

Back - On the back, it depicts the fascia of City Hall in Belfast. The Belfast City Hall is situated in Donegall Square. The Belfast City hall was built in 1906. In 2006, it celebrated its centenary with an exhibition. It is interesting to note that the City Hall in Durban South Africa also has the same city hall also identical to the one in Belfast. The designer for the Durban City Hall was inspired and influenced by the Belfast City Hall design.

...Transnistria - A full set of 8 Notes all dated 2012 (Reprints of 2007/2004)

Република Молдовеняскэ Нистрянэ

Приднестровская Молдавская Республика

(Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic)

 

Transnistrian Republican Bank, Est.1992

Currency : Ruble

 

A full set of 8 circulating notes all dated 2012. The notes posted here are the 1, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 200 and 500 rubles. The first 6 notes are reprints from the 2007 series and the remaining two notes of 200 and 500 rubles are the reprints of the 2004 series. It is believed that the two higher denominations of 200 and 500 rubles are rarely used, and they were not issued when the 2007 series was introduced.

 

As Transnistria is not a recognised country by the United Nations, and therefore it's rubles are also not negotiable outside its territory too. Apart from Russia, to the rest of the world, Transnistria is considered as part of Moldova.

In general, these are all considered small size banknotes. Like all other Transnistrian banknotes issued, there are no signatures printed on these notes.

One Ruble

 

Signature - N/A

Watermark - General Alexander Vassilyevich Suvorov and electrotype ПРБ

Series - 2007/2012

Dimensions - 130mm x 56.5mm

 

Front - A portrait of the Russian General Alexander Vassilyevich Suvorov (b.1730-1800) in military uniform. General Suvorav was a Russian born military hero holding the rank of Field Marshal Generalissimo. He was born in Moscow and joined the army at the age of 17 and was promoted to the rank of colonel when he was 32 years old. By 1787, he was then promoted to the rank of General. During his lifetime, he was involved in at least 57 battles/wars with the majority of these conflicts ending in victory in his favour. He died at the age of 70 years old and was buried in the city of St Petersburg. He was the fourth Generalissimo of Russia.

 

Back - Kitskansk Bridgehead memorial or Chiţcani monument in Chitcani. This monument was built in 1972 (opened 09.05.1972) to commemorate victory against the German invasion during the Second World War in 1944. Chitcani is situated north of Tiraspol, the capital city of Transnistria.

  

Five Rubles

 

Signature - N/A

Watermark - General Alexander Vassilyevich Suvorov and electrotype ПРБ

Series - 2007/2012

Dimensions - 130mm x 56.5mm

 

Front - A portrait of the Russian General Alexander Vassilyevich Suvorov (b.1730-1800) in military uniform.

 

Back - KVINT Distillery administrative building in Tiraspol. KVIT is a winery and distillery company founded in 1897. The distillery initially only produced vodka and in 1938 , it started producing brandies as well. The KVINT is the oldest and still operating commercial enterprise in Transnistria.

 

Ten Rubles

 

Signature - N/A

Watermark - General Alexander Vassilyevich Suvorov and electrotype ПРБ

Series - 2007/2012

Dimensions - 130mm x 56.5mm

 

Front - A portrait of the Russian General Alexander Vassilyevich Suvorov (b.1730-1800) in military uniform.

 

Back - The Nova Nemetsky monastery in Kitskansk. This monastery was built around 1914 (completed) and is located in the center of the village of Kitskansk. The monastery consists of four churches; the Holy Ascension Cathedral; Assumption Church; St. Nicholas; and the Holy Cross Church.

 

Twenty Five Rubles

 

Signature - N/A

Watermark - Catherine the Great and electrotype ПРБ

Series - 2007/2012

Dimensions - 130mm x 56.5mm

 

Front - A portrait of the Russian General Alexander Vassilyevich Suvorov (b.1730-1800) in military uniform.

 

Back - The Russian Glory monument for the 55th Podolsky Regiment in Bender, near Tiraspol. This monument was built to commemorate the Russian army defeating the Napoleon army in 1812.

 

 

Fifty Rubles

 

Signature - N/A

Watermark - Piotr Aleksandrovich Rumyantsev-Sadunayskiy and electrotype ПРБ

Series - 2007/2012

Dimensions - 130mm x 61mm

 

Front - A portrait of Taras Grigoryyevich Shevchenko (b.1814-1861) was a Ukrainian poet, writer, artist and political figure.

 

Back - The Transnistria Parliament building in Tiraspol. This building is called the Supreme Council of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic. This is an unicameral legislature with 33 seats. No doubt, Transnistria is pro Russia and will rely on Russia to protect them for any arm conflicts with Moldova or any of its neighbours.

 

One Hundred Rubles

Signature - N/A

Watermark - Piotr Aleksandrovich Rumyantsev-Sadunayskiy and electrotype ПРБ

Series - 2007/2012

Dimensions - 130mm x 61mm

Front - Dimitrie Cantemir (b.1673-1723). Dimitrie Cantemir was a Romanian and became the Prince of Moldavia for about one month in 1693 and then again from 1710 to 1711). During the conflict with the Ottoman, he sided with the Russian and following hie defeat, he was forced into exile. He died at the age of 49 at the Russian border town of Dmitrovsky.

Back - The Church of the Nativity in Tiraspol. This is a Russian Orthodox church and was built in 1999. This church is also known as the Cathedral of the Birth of Christ and also the largest church in the capital city, Tiraspol.

 

 

Two Humdred Rubles

 

Signature - N/A

Watermark - Piotr Aleksandrovich Rumyantsev-Sadunayskiy and electrotype ПРБ

Series - 2004/2012

Dimensions - 136mm x 64.5mm

 

Front - Piotr Aleksandrovich Rumyantsev-Sadunayskiy (b.1725-1796). Piotr Rumyantsev was a Russian general and served under the reign of the Russian Empress, Catherine the Great. He was considered as one of the greatest Russian generals of the 18th century.

 

Back - A sense of the Battle of Egersdorf in the Seven Years War in 1757, showing the advancing Russian army in a battle field. The war was fought against the Prussian army.

 

 

Five Hundred Rubles

Signature - N/A

Watermark - Catherine the Great and electrotype ПРБ

Series - 2004/2012

Dimensions - 141mm x 68mm

Front - A portrait of Catherine the Great. She was born as Princess Sophia Augusta Frederica von Anhalt-Zerbst in 1729 and died in 1796. Both her parents were German princes and princesses. She overthrew her husband, Peter III (Peter III Fyodorovich, Emperor of Russia, b.1728-1762) to become the Empress of Russia in 1762. Her husband was only accessed to the Russian throne for just over 6 months before he was overthrown. She went on and served as the Empress of Russian for 34 years until her death at age 67.

Back - In the center is the Tiraspol fortress of 1826. The Tiraspol fortress was built by the Ottoman in the 16th century. For many years, this fortress was occupied by the Russian army and was off limits to the public. Today this fortress is open to the public and is one of the tourist attractions in Tiraspol. To the left is a scroll.

@45.59 @45.08 @91.39

...Poland - 20 Zlotych Commemorative - 80th Anniversary of the Warsaw Uprising 1944-2024 Folder

Rzeczpospolita Polska
(Republic of Poland)

Naradowy Bank Polski
(National Bank of Poland, Est.1945)
Currency - Zloty (PLN)

 

This commemorative note was released on 26.07.2024 to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the outbreak of the Warsaw Uprising. According to the official website, a total of 80,000 sets have been issued and like all commemorative notes issued, this note also comes in a simple folder and is sold at 140 zlotych each. This is a numismatic collectible banknote of 20 zlotych and is legal tender in Poland as face value.

 

The Warsaw Uprising was a failed operation and is referred to the Polish underground resistance group to liberate Warsaw from the German Nazi occupation during the Second World War (1939-1945). The uprising carried out by the pro-Western Polish Home Army was started on 01.08.1944 and only lasted for 63 days to 02.10.1944. At the time of the uprising, the Germans were losing the war and were about to retreat, ahead of the Soviet advance into Poland. However, the advancing Soviet army deliberately halted their advances from the eastern side of Warsaw, and this gave the Germans time to regroup and defeat the Polish resistance. The Warsaw Uprising is also sometimes referred to as the August Uprising. The casualties for this uprising were very high with an estimated 16,000 members of the Polish resistance killed (averaging 253+ killed per day) plus another 200,000 civilians lost their life, mainly due to mass executions carried out by the German as punishment against those resisted. The uprising destroyed about 85% of Warsaw. The Polish leader who gave the order for the uprising at that time was led by Generał Tadeusz Komorowski (b.1895-1966). After the war, General Tadeusz Komorowski went on to serve as the 3rd Prime Minister of the Polish Government in Exile from 1947 to 1949. He died in exile at the age of 71 years old. Many historians would say that the Warsaw Uprising was premature and that is why it failed with loss of so many lives.

 

This is the 16th commemorative banknote issued by the National Bank of Poland since 2006. Since 2014, the bank has been releasing commemorative banknotes on a yearly basis and sold them as numismatic collectables at a premium. Although all notes issued are legal tender, it is very unlikely that you will ever find them circulating as legal tender notes for goods and services rendered. However, is this going to be an annual event in releasing numismatic collectable commemorative notes going forward? I personally would like to see them releasing them as commemorative circulating types as it might be cheaper to acquire as a collector. The face value for this 20 zlotych is worth about US$5 and the official selling price is 7 times the value of the note.

 

Commemorative banknotes issued by the bank have become popular among collectors over the past few years. Apart from the first issue of the 2006 John Paul II note (50 zlotych - 2.0 million sets issued), the value for all other collectable notes have gone up in value, with a few now getting a bit expensive to collect. 

Twenty Zlotych

 

Front - This is according to the information printed on the folder back cover, showing insurgents on a barricade watching the PAST (Polish Telephone Joint Stock Company) buildings in flames and in the center, a group of German prisoners of war. Below that is a billowing Polish flag of white and red colours, which is also visible under UV light. The denomination of '20' is printed with brick wall rolling effect colour. The note is printed with the Polish date of Warszawa 10 stycznia 2024 r. (Warsaw January 10, 2024). This note is printed by the Polish Security Works (PWPW S.A.) with the prefix of PW.

Signatures

President (Prezes) - Adam Glapinski (since 2016)

Chief Treasurer (Główny Skarbnik) - Barbara Jaroszek (since 2017)

Watermark - Fighting Poland symbol against a stylised  brick wall and electrotype 1944

Quantity - 80,000 sets

Official issue price - 140 zlotych (face value 20 zlotych)

Dimensions - 151.5mm x 78mm

Back - On the left are two resistance fighters with rifles in hands positioning themselves against the background of a destroyed building captured from the interiors of the Church of the Holy Cross, as well as a field mass celebrated in the courtyard at 12 Poznanska Street. To the far right are two-colour graphic elements symbolising brick ruins. 

Note - I believe the two images depicting the insurgents in the front and the resistance fighters in the back both derived from actual photos taken during the time of the uprising. No doubt these are historical images of the war during the German occupation in Poland. I wonder if the Polish authority has ever identified who they are?

 

Below are the full list of all commemorative notes issued since 2006;-

2006 - 50zl Karol Wojtyla aka Pope John Paul ll : qty 2.0M (i/p 90zl)

2008 - 10zl Josef Pilsudski : qty 80,000 (i/p 15zl)

2009 - 20zl Poet Julius Slowacki : qty 80,000 (i/p 80zl)

2009 - 20zl Frederic Francois Chopin : qty 120,000 (i/p 50zl)

2011 - 20zl Marie Sklodowska Curie : qty 60,000 (i/p 60zl)

2014 - 20zl Josef Pilsudski [polymer] : qty 60,000 (i/p 50zl)

2015 - 20zl Jan Dlugosz : qty 30,000 (i/p 72zl)

2016 - 20zl Doubravka of Bohemia & King Miezko : qty 35,000 (i/p 75zl)

2017 - 20zl Our Lady of Czestochowa : qty 55,000 (i/p 60zl)

2018 - 20zl Josef Pilsudski : qty 50,000 (i/p 75zl)

2019 - 19zl Polska Wytwornia Papierow Wartosciowych [hybrid] : qty 55,000 (i/p 80zl)

2020 - 20zl Josef Pilsudski : qty 60,000 (i/p 80zl)

2021 - 20zl Lech Kaczynski : qty 80,000 (i/p 100zl)

2022 - 20zl Protection of the Eastern Front : qty 80,000 (i/p 50zl)

2023 - 20zl Nicolaus Copernicus [polymer] : qty 100,000 (i/p 160zl)

2024 - 20zl, 80th Anniversary of the Warsaw Uprising : qty 80,000 (i/p 140zl)