250 mils 1979

Common. The 250 mils denomination was a standard mid-range denomination in Cyprus's circulating currency system during the 1979-1980s period. With no evidence of limited print runs, short circulation periods, or recall, and given the note's straightforward catalog entry without notation of rarity variants, this note should be considered common in its denomination class. UNC examples may command modest premiums over circulated specimens, but the denomination itself presents no scarcity.

This 250 mils denomination was issued during Cyprus's post-independence period, reflecting the island's bicommunal structure through its consistent bilingual presentation in Greek and Turkish. The agricultural imagery—citrus fruits and wheat—symbolized Cyprus's agrarian economy during this era, while the modern building complex depicted on the reverse likely represented development initiatives undertaken by the newly independent republic. The note's 1979 date places it within the period following the Turkish invasion of 1974, during a time when the Central Bank of Cyprus was reasserting monetary sovereignty.

The obverse features a tripartite medallion design reflecting Cyprus's economic sectors: the left medallion displays citrus fruits (primarily oranges and lemons), symbolizing the island's significant citrus export industry; the center medallion showcases golden wheat sheaves against a pink background, representing the agricultural foundation of the Cypriot economy; and the right medallion presents the official coat of arms of the Republic of Cyprus. The entire design is framed by intricate braided and geometric guilloche borders in blue-navy tones with cream accents. The reverse displays a carefully engraved landscape scene in monochrome, featuring a modernist building complex (likely representing institutional or governmental architecture), cypress trees characteristic of Mediterranean landscapes, a winding road with viaduct or bridge structure, and rolling hills. The architectural style and landscape composition reflect contemporary 1970s development imagery.

FRONT SIDE: '250 MIL' (denomination in English); 'ΚΕΝΤΡΙΚΗ ΤΡΑΠΕΖΑ ΤΗΣ ΚΥΠΡΟΥ' (Central Bank of Cyprus in Greek); 'KIBRIS MERKEZ BANKASI' (Central Bank of Cyprus in Turkish); 'ΔΙΑΚΟΣΙΑ ΠΕΝΤΗΚΟΝΤΑ ΜΙΛΣ' (Two hundred and fifty mils in Greek); 'IKI YÜZ ELLI MIL' (Two hundred and fifty mils in Turkish); 'ΔΙΟΙΚΗΤΗΣ - MÜDÜR' (Director/Governor in Greek and Turkish); Serial number 'P 68 I30182'; Date '1.9.1979' (September 1, 1979); Signature of 'Χρ. Κ. Βέργης' (Chr. K. Vergis). BACK SIDE: 'Central Bank of Cyprus' (English); 'TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY MILS' (English).

This banknote was produced using traditional intaglio (line engraving) printing, evidenced by the fine detail in the guilloche patterns, the crisp definition of the landscape engraving on the reverse, and the multi-color printing visible on the obverse. The delicate braided borders, fine line work in the medallions, and detailed landscape elements are characteristic of security printing techniques employed by central bank note production. The note was likely printed by the Bank of England's printing works (Bradbury Wilkinson) or a similar security printer contracted by the Central Bank of Cyprus, though definitive attribution would require additional documentation specific to Pick 41c.

The specific variety is identifiable by the date '1.9.1979' (September 1, 1979), signature of Χρ. Κ. Βέργης (Chr. K. Vergis) as Governor, and serial number prefix 'P 68'. Pick 41c may have multiple signature and date varieties corresponding to different issuance periods. The serial number 'P 68 I30182' suggests this is from an early production batch. Collectors should note that signature varieties exist for this denomination, with different governors' signatures marking distinct periods of issuance.