1 pound 1960
Market Prices
22 salesAbout This Note
A VF-graded 1 Egyptian Pound note from 1960 featuring vibrant multi-color printing in blue, pink, gold, and green. The obverse displays a classical Egyptian pharaoh (Tutankhamen) in profile wearing the traditional nemes headdress, flanked by an ornate winged Egyptian coat of arms and elaborate Islamic geometric patterns. The reverse showcases beautifully engraved ancient Egyptian temple ruins with lotus-capital columns reflected in water, demonstrating the exceptional artistry of mid-20th century Egyptian currency design.
Common. This note was issued over an 8-year period (1952-1960) by the National Bank of Egypt as regular currency. eBay market data shows consistent availability with VF-graded examples selling in the $8-15 range historically, and catalog values listing VF at $5. The PMG population report shows this Pick number has been professionally graded multiple times. Print runs for this denomination during this period were substantial, ensuring widespread availability in the collector market today.
Issued during the early years of the National Bank of Egypt's post-independence currency program (1952-1960), this note reflects Egypt's proud connection to its pharaonic heritage while incorporating Islamic artistic elements. The imagery of Tutankhamen and the Philae temple ruins represent the nation's efforts to tie modern financial institutions to ancient Egyptian civilization and cultural identity during a period of significant political transformation following the 1952 revolution.
The obverse features King Tutankhamen depicted in classical profile orientation, rendered in mauve/pink tones and facing left, wearing the traditional pharaonic nemes headdress with uraeus cobra symbol. The left side contains a reserved circular area for the watermark (Sphinx). A prominent winged Egyptian coat of arms with intricate geometric and calligraphic detailing dominates the upper portion in pink, blue, yellow, and green. Decorative borders incorporate lotus flower motifs and Islamic geometric patterns in blue and gold. The reverse presents an architectural rendering of the Philae temple complex with massive pharaonic columns and pylon structures, depicted with fine detail work and water reflections beneath. The temple design showcases lotus-capital columns characteristic of ancient Egyptian temple architecture.
Obverse: 'البنك الأهلي المصري' (National Bank of Egypt in Arabic); Serial number: '576904' (appears twice). Reverse: 'NATIONAL BANK OF EGYPT' and 'ONE EGYPTIAN POUND' (both in English). The bilingual approach reflects the note's international circulation and Egypt's cosmopolitan banking practices of the era.
Intaglio/engraved currency printing with multi-color offset lithography. The fine line work, detailed engraving throughout the decorative borders, lotus motifs, and architectural elements, combined with the precise registration of multiple colors (blue, pink, gold, green, cream) indicates high-security currency printing standards typical of 1950s central bank note production. Security features include watermark integration and complex color layering.
Pick 30 represents the standard 1952-1960 series 1 Egyptian Pound note. Serial number 576904 observed on this example. The note shows the characteristic blue and lilac coloring of the type with Tutankhamen portrait at right. No major varieties are noted for this Pick number in standard catalogs, though minor signature and numbering variations may exist within the 8-year production run. The observed specimen appears to be from mid-series production based on serial number sequencing.
