10 markkaa 1963

Common. This is a regular-issue banknote from a major denomination (10 Markkaa) with no indicators of limited print run or recall. eBay historical price data shows consistent sales across multiple condition grades, with UNC examples typically realizing $7.99–$13.51, indicating healthy supply and routine collector demand. The catalogue value of $9 for UNC grade reinforces common status. Multiple examples appear regularly in the market.

Issued in 1963, this banknote represents Finland's independent monetary authority during the Cold War era, when the Suomen Pankki (Bank of Finland) maintained strict control over the currency supply. The portrait honors Juho Kusti Paasikivi, Finland's president during a critical period of national reconstruction following World War II, symbolizing the nation's commitment to stability and sovereignty. The Finnish heraldic lion on the reverse—a crowned rampant lion holding a sword—represents the country's medieval heritage and continued national identity during an era of European economic integration.

The obverse features a three-quarter profile portrait of Juho Kusti Paasikivi (1870-1956), Finland's eighth president, depicted wearing round spectacles and formal business attire. The background is densely filled with fine-line security patterns and geometric cross-hatch guilloché work creating visual depth and deterring counterfeiting. The denomination '10' appears prominently in the upper left and upper right corners in large numerals. The reverse displays Finland's national coat of arms—a crowned lion rampant holding an upright sword—rendered in detailed engraving and surrounded by ornamental floral elements and rosette decorations. The design employs bilingual inscriptions reflecting Finland's Swedish-speaking heritage alongside Finnish text. The overall color scheme combines greenish-gray tones on the obverse with pale green and cyan hues on the reverse.

Front side: 'KYMMENEN MARKKAA' (Ten Marks), '10' (denomination), 'SUOMEN PANKKI' (Bank of Finland), 'Litt. A' (Letter designation A), '1963' (issue year), and serial number 'AA3085201' with two signatures. Back side: '10' (denomination in all four corners), 'SUOMEN PANKKI' (Bank of Finland in Finnish), 'KYMMENEN MARKKAA' (Ten Marks in Finnish), 'FINLANDS BANK' (Bank of Finland in Swedish), and 'TIO MARK' (Ten Marks in Swedish).

Intaglio engraving (line-engraved banknote), the standard security printing method for Finnish banknotes of this era. The extensive fine-line patterns, complex guilloché security features, and sharp engraved details visible throughout both sides are characteristic of professional banknote intaglio production. This note was produced by Suomen Pankki's contracted security printer, likely Valtion Rahapaja (Finnish State Mint) or an approved foreign security printer typical for this period.

This note is catalogued as Pick P-104a with vertical wavy lines watermark, representing the primary known variety for this denomination and year. The 'Litt. A' (Letter A) designation visible on the obverse right is a standard feature of this issue. The serial number prefix 'AA' and specific numbering may indicate a print batch, but without access to comprehensive serial number studies for this issue, individual serial numbers are not considered distinct varieties. The note exhibits the standard two-signature format of the period.