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1 Pound, South African Reserve Bank, South Africa, 1948–1959 (Pick 92)

DocumentedSupported by at least one credible specialist source.

Record status

Individual type · partial

Period

1948-1959

Issuing entity

Union of South Africa

This 1 Pound note was issued in South Africa by the South African Reserve Bank, with dates recorded from 1948–1959. It belongs to the Pound (1825-1961) currency system. Issuing authority and period recorded in the catalogue: George VI (1936-1952); Elizabeth II (1952-1961). It measures 150 × 85 mm and is printed on paper. The Standard Catalog of World Paper Money lists the type as Pick 92.

Obverse: Black and mulitcolour print. Bartholomeus Vermuyden left, three sailing ships in the bottom right Scripts: Latin and Latin (cursive). Its lettering reads “1 SOUTH AFRICAN RESERVE BANK 1 / SUID-AFRIKAANSE RESERWEBANK / I promise to pay the bearer on demand at Pretoria, / Ek beloof op aanvraag te betaal toonder te Pretoria, / ONE POUND / EEN POND / For the South African Reserve Bank. / Vir die Suid Afrikaanse Reserwebank. / Governor. / President. / 15 November, 1948.”.

Reverse: Green blue print. Coat of arms with a lion, surrounded by billingual text. Its lettering reads “EEN POND / SUID- / AFRIKAANSE / RESERWE- / BANK / EX UNITATE VIRES / SOUTH / AFRICAN / RESERVE / BANK / ONE POUND”. The note was printed by Bradbury Wilkinson and Company, United Kingdom (1856-1990). Design is credited to Stephen Gooden. Watermark: Portrait of Bartholomeus Vermuyden. Demonetized: Yes. Identification note: match the value, issuing bank, printed date and Pick number together; dates and signature combinations distinguish sub-varieties, which are not separated in this entry. Details follow the Numista catalogue entry and the Standard Catalog reference it cites; they have not been checked against a central-bank archive.

Evidence at a glance

Linked sources
2
Photograph views
2
Catalogue references
2

Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.

Historical context

The picture on this note and the similar notes are of the Dutch officer Bartholomeus Vermuyden, from the English civil war. For a long time the picture the image was taken from, was mistankely thought to be of van Riebeeck.

Physical characteristics

Size
150 × 85 mm
Shape
Rectangular
Material
Paper
Watermark
Portrait of Bartholomeus Vermuyden

Technical characteristics

Printer
Bradbury Wilkinson and Company, United Kingdom (1856-1990)
Currency
Pound (1825-1961)
Designer
Stephen Gooden
Demonetized
Yes
Issuing bank
South African Reserve Bank

Design

Obverse
Black and mulitcolour print. Bartholomeus Vermuyden left, three sailing ships in the bottom right Scripts: Latin and Latin (cursive)
Reverse
Green blue print. Coat of arms with a lion, surrounded by billingual text.
Obverse lettering
1 SOUTH AFRICAN RESERVE BANK 1 / SUID-AFRIKAANSE RESERWEBANK / I promise to pay the bearer on demand at Pretoria, / Ek beloof op aanvraag te betaal toonder te Pretoria, / ONE POUND / EEN POND / For the South African Reserve Bank. / Vir die Suid Afrikaanse Reserwebank. / Governor. / President. / 15 November, 1948.
Reverse lettering
EEN POND / SUID- / AFRIKAANSE / RESERWE- / BANK / EX UNITATE VIRES / SOUTH / AFRICAN / RESERVE / BANK / ONE POUND

Identification

Value
1 Pound
Dates recorded
1948-1959
Distinguishing features
Printed date and signature combination separate sub-varieties
Catalogue number to match
Pick 92

Documentation checklist

Denomination
Research required
Issue or mint date
Recorded
Material
Recorded
Weight
Research required
Mint or printer
Recorded
Mint or printer mark
Research required
Catalogue reference
Recorded
Attached photograph (check rights)
Recorded

Recorded means a field is present, not independently verified. Read its wording, supporting source and the entry’s confidence level.

Catalogue references

  • Standard Catalog of World Paper Money (Pick)P92
  • NumistaN# 231779

Research required

  • Confirm date and signature varieties against the Standard Catalog of World Paper Money.
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