1 pound 1966

Common. This is a regular-issue note from a substantial print run characteristic of Bermuda's primary circulating currency in the mid-1960s. The eBay market data shows consistent sales across a wide range of grades from $21 to $474, with examples in the 60-65 grade range (comparable to this PCGS 64) selling in the $100-$200 range. The abundance of sales data across multiple years and grades confirms this is a frequently encountered note in the market.

Issued on October 1, 1966, this note represents Bermuda's currency during a significant period of decolonization and modernization in the Caribbean. The prominent display of 'Bermuda Government' authority and 'Colonial Treasurer' signatures reflects the island's transitional status as a British dependency modernizing its administrative structures. The heraldic coat of arms on the reverse symbolizes Bermuda's connection to the British Crown and Commonwealth, while the harbor landscape vignette references the island's historical importance as a maritime hub.

The obverse features a right-facing profile portrait of Queen Elizabeth II rendered in blue tones, positioned at the right side of the note. The left side displays a detailed landscape vignette in yellow and tan tones depicting a colonial-era Bermuda harbor settlement with water, buildings, and architectural elements characteristic of Hamilton's historic waterfront. The center of the note contains the Bermuda Government coat of arms within ornamental cartouches, surrounded by decorative floral and scrollwork elements. The reverse presents the Bermuda coat of arms prominently displayed within a circular heraldic frame in the center, with denomination indicators (£1 and ONE POUND) in ornamental cartouches positioned at left and right. Extensive guilloche work and fine-line ornamentation frame all design elements on both sides.

FRONT SIDE: 'BERMUDA GOVERNMENT' (issuing authority); 'BERMUDA NOTES ARE LEGAL TENDER FOR THE PAYMENT OF ANY AMOUNT' (legal tender declaration); 'HAMILTON, BERMUDA, 1st OCTOBER, 1966' (place and date of issue); 'ONE POUND' (denomination); 'ISSUED UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE BERMUDA LEGISLATURE' (authorization statement); 'DEPUTY COLONIAL TREASURER' and 'COLONIAL TREASURER' (signature lines); Serial number designation 'X/2 500199'. BACK SIDE: '£1' and 'ONE POUND' (denomination indicators in ornamental cartouches).

Intaglio engraving combined with letterpress, executed by Bradbury Wilkinson & Co., Ltd. of New Malden, England. This security printer's trademark techniques are evident in the crisp fine-line work, precise guilloche patterns, and the sharp definition of the portrait and heraldic imagery. The multi-color printing demonstrates sophisticated registration and layering typical of professional security printing of the 1960s era.

This note corresponds to Pick catalog number P-20d. The specific variant designation suggests it is the fourth identified variety of the 1 pound note from this series. According to PMG population data, varieties include P-20a, P-20b (without security strip), P-20c (with security strip), and P-20cts. The visual analysis does not reveal definitive security strip characteristics from the obverse image, but the catalog designation P-20d would indicate the specific printing variant represented by this specimen. Serial number X/2 500199 represents the specific production batch for this individual note.