1 cedi 1965

Common. This note was a regular issue of the Bank of Ghana in 1965 and circulated widely. eBay market data shows consistent pricing with UNC examples selling between $9.99 and $21.50 over the past decade, with catalog values (2019) listed at $17.50 for UNC condition. The availability of multiple sales records and PMG population data confirms this is a commonly encountered note among collectors. The modest price points ($9-22 range for UNC specimens) are consistent with common 20th-century banknotes.

This banknote was issued during Ghana's early post-independence period under President Kwame Nkrumah's leadership, as the newly sovereign nation established its own central banking system and currency. The prominent display of Nkrumah's portrait on the obverse reflects his iconic status as the architect of Ghanaian independence and national development. The architectural emphasis on the Bank of Ghana building on the reverse symbolizes the nation's modern economic institutions and financial sovereignty during this formative period of nation-building.

The obverse features a left-facing profile portrait of President Kwame Nwia Kofie Kwame Nkrumah positioned within a circular frame on the right side of the note, topped by a star symbol. The composition employs elaborate decorative borders incorporating Greek key geometric patterns, floral botanical motifs, and heraldic elements suggesting national pride and institutional authority. An anchor or maritime symbol appears on the left border, reflecting Ghana's coastal significance. The reverse depicts a detailed architectural engraving of the multi-story Bank of Ghana headquarters building in Accra, shown with modern institutional design, regular fenestration, connecting structures, and landscaping elements including trees and vegetation.

Front: 'BANK OF GHANA' (issuing authority); 'One Cedi' (denomination in words); 'THIS NOTE IS ISSUED ON STATUTORY AUTHORITY AND IS LEGAL TENDER IN GHANA FOR THE PAYMENT OF ANY AMOUNT' (legal tender declaration); 'GOVERNOR' (signature line designation); Serial number '547099' (printed twice); '₵1' (currency symbol denomination). Back: '₵1' (currency symbol denomination).

Intaglio (engraved) printing on multicolored underprint. The fine line work visible in the decorative borders, geometric patterns, and architectural details on the reverse demonstrates high-quality intaglio engraving characteristic of 1960s central bank currency production. The precision of the window patterns and structural details on the Bank of Ghana building, combined with the crisp portrait rendering, indicates professional security printing by an established currency printer, though the specific printer is not documented in available catalogs for this issue.

Pick catalog identifies this as P-5a (1 Cedi). PMG population reports indicate this is the primary documented variety for the base Pick number P-5. The specimen shows serial number 547099. No overprints or significant variants are apparent from the visual analysis. The handwritten Governor's signature visible on the front is consistent with the 1965 issuance period.