10 shillings 1963

Common. The eBay price history shows consistent sales in the $30-40 range for UNC specimens across multiple years (2009-2026), with catalog values placing UNC examples at $50 as of 2019. The regular circulation of these notes across a modern nation-state and the established secondary market pricing indicate this is a common issue for collectors. No evidence of restricted print runs, recall, or scarcity markers exists.

Issued on 1st July 1963, this note represents Ghana's transition from British colonial currency to its own sovereign currency system under President Kwame Nkrumah. The Bank of Ghana building depicted in Accra's modernist architectural style symbolized the nation's contemporary development aspirations. The cacao plant imagery on the reverse acknowledges Ghana's primary export commodity and economic foundation, linking national identity to agricultural heritage.

The obverse features a centered modernist architectural illustration of the Bank of Ghana headquarters complex in Accra, comprising a lower horizontal administrative building adjoining a taller multi-story institutional structure, rendered in a professional engraving style against a cream background with green decorative borders. The reverse displays an elaborate security design centered on a six-pointed star containing the Bank of Ghana name, surrounded by concentric geometric guilloche patterns and rosette medallions. A naturalistic border of cacao plant branches with characteristic seed pods frames the entire reverse design. Both sides utilize fine line engraving with intricate crosshatching and geometric patterns as anti-counterfeiting measures. The color scheme on the obverse is predominantly beige/cream with green accents, while the reverse is primarily green with black and white engraving work.

Front side: 'BANK OF GHANA' (institution name); 'THIS NOTE IS ISSUED ON STATUTORY AUTHORITY AND IS LEGAL TENDER IN GHANA FOR THE PAYMENT OF ANY AMOUNT' (legal tender declaration); 'شلن غوانا' (Arabic: 'Ghana Shillings'); 'Z 155599' (serial number); 'GOVERNOR' (signature line); 'ACCRA' (place of issue); '1ST JULY 1963' (date of issue); 'TEN SHILLINGS' (denomination in words); '10/' (denomination in numerals). Back side: 'BANK OF GHANA' (text within central star medallion); '10/' (denomination marker).

Intaglio engraving (line engraving) with multiple color printing. The intricate guilloche patterns, fine crosshatching, and complex geometric designs visible throughout are characteristic of high-security intaglio currency production. While the PMG population report does not definitively identify the printer for the P-1d variety, the technical quality and design sophistication suggest production by a major international security printer of the period, likely Bradbury Wilkinson or De La Rue, firms commonly contracted by newly independent African nations for currency production.

This note is identified as Pick P-1d (10 Shillings, 1963). The PMG population report identifies four known varieties of the 10 Shillings issue: P-1a, P-1as (specimen), P-1d, and P-1s (with TDLR printer attribution). The present note's P-1d designation, combined with the single signature configuration and 1st July 1963 date, distinguishes it from other varieties. The serial number prefix 'Z' and single governor signature are consistent with the P-1d cataloging. No overprints or special markings are evident from the visual analysis.