500 korun 1945 specimen

Common. While specimen notes are typically produced in smaller quantities than circulation issues, this particular note shows consistent eBay market prices ranging from $27.90 to $357 USD across various condition grades over the past decade, with most sales clustering in the $30-$50 range for About Uncirculated examples. The PMG population report indicates only one catalogued variant for Pick P-64s, but the available market data and catalog valuations ($40 UNC in 2016) indicate this is a standard, readily available specimen. No evidence of rarity or restricted print run exists.

The 1945 Czechoslovak 500 Korun note was issued following the liberation and reconstitution of the Czechoslovak Republic after World War II, marking the return to national sovereignty and independent currency issuance. The portrait of Jan Kollár, a significant 19th-century Slovak literary and cultural figure, reflects the nationalist and cultural pride of the newly restored state. The reverse depicts Lake Štrbské Pleso in the High Tatras mountains, emphasizing the natural heritage and geographic identity of the Czechoslovak territories, particularly the Slovak regions.

The obverse features a formal portrait of Jan Kollár (1793-1852), a prominent Slovak poet, philologist, and cultural nationalist, rendered in left-facing profile within an ornate oval frame. The portrait is executed in fine line engraving with careful attention to period costume and facial features, characteristic of 19th-century numismatic portraiture. The reverse depicts an Alpine landscape scene of Lake Štrbské Pleso (Štrbské Pleso) in the High Tatras mountains, featuring a mountain lake surrounded by coniferous forests with peaks in the background and a small building or lodge on the shoreline—a symbolic representation of Czechoslovak natural heritage. Both sides are framed by elaborate ornamental borders incorporating geometric and floral patterns typical of interwar and immediate postwar Czechoslovak banknote design. The Czechoslovak coat of arms appears as a heraldic emblem featuring an eagle design with shield.

FRONT: 'REPUBLIKA ČESKOSLOVENSKÁ' (Czechoslovak Republic) | 'PÄTSTO KORUN ČESKOSLOVENSKÝCH' (Five Hundred Czechoslovak Korun) | 'MINISTER FINANCIÍ' (Minister of Finance) | 'TÁTO STÁTOVKA PLATÍ' (This banknote is valid) | 'FALŠOVANIE STÁTOVIEK SA TRESTÁ PODĽA ZÁKONA' (Counterfeiting banknotes is punishable by law) | Serial number: CA777.352 (appears twice). BACK: Denomination '500' appears in multiple locations within the decorative border design.

Intaglio engraving (line engraving) on high-quality banknote paper, executed by BWC (Banknote World Company or similar security printer designation). The fine line work visible in both the portrait and landscape vignettes, combined with the ornate border designs, confirms traditional intaglio processing. Security features include watermark (man's head design) and specimen cancellation via perforated punch holes marked 'S' or 'SPECIMEN'. The note was printed on crisp, high-quality banknote stock with excellent impression characteristics.

This is catalogued as Pick P-64s, specifically the specimen variety of the 1945 500 Korun issue. The 's' designation indicates specimen cancellation (punch holes and 'SPECIMEN' overprint). The serial number CA777.352 with black printing is consistent with the P-64s specification. A similar circulation note exists as Pick P-73 issued by Národní Banka Československá (National Bank of Czechoslovakia), making this earlier Ministerial Finance issue (Republika Československá) a distinct variety. The BWC printer attribution and specimen designation with perforated holes and punched cancellation are standard variety identifiers for this Pick number.