10 pounds 1975

Common. The 1975 Gibraltar £10 (P-22a) is a standard circulation issue from Gibraltar's Government with no recorded print-run restrictions or recall. Market evidence supports this assessment: comparable examples in VF condition have sold for approximately $22.50-$55 USD, and even PMG-graded examples (PMG 66) have sold for approximately $130 USD, which are typical price points for common Commonwealth notes of this era. No numismatic literature indicates this variety is scarce, and it appears regularly in dealer inventories and online auctions.

Issued on 20th November 1975 under the authority of the Currency Note Ordinance Cap 39, this note marks an important period in Gibraltar's monetary independence following the 1969 establishment of its own currency authority. The prominent depiction of the Governor's House on the reverse symbolizes Gibraltar's colonial administrative heritage, while the Rock of Gibraltar vignette and 'Montis Calpe Insignia' (Insignia of Mount Calpe) on the obverse anchor the design to Gibraltar's iconic natural landmark and historical identity. This issue predates the 1986 variant, making it part of the original generation of Gibraltar's Government-issued banknotes.

The obverse features a formal three-quarter portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, rendered in intaglio engraving and positioned at the center-right of the note, adorned with tiara and pearl necklace in formal court dress. The upper-left vignette depicts the Rock of Gibraltar with visible fortifications, establishing Gibraltar's geographical and military significance. The lower-center features an ornate coat of arms incorporating a castle tower motif with the Latin inscription 'Montis Calpe Insignia,' referencing Gibraltar's ancient designation as Mount Calpe. The reverse showcases a meticulously detailed two-story neoclassical building—the Governor's House—rendered with architectural precision including rusticated stonework, segmented windows, a prominent roofline balustrade, ground-floor arcade, and landscaping with palm trees. Both sides are framed by ornamental borders featuring fan or palm-like geometric patterns executed in fine line work. The color scheme employs deep blue/navy, dark brown, deep blue-green, and cream/white with gold/tan accent details.

FRONT SIDE: '£10' and 'TEN POUNDS' (denomination); 'GIBRALTAR' (country of issue); 'ISSUED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF GIBRALTAR' (issuing authority); 'UNDER AUTHORITY OF THE CURRENCY NOTE ORDINANCE CAP 39' (legal basis); '20th Nov. 1975' (issue date); 'A323910' (serial number); 'CURRENCY NOTES ARE LEGAL TENDER IN GIBRALTAR FOR THE PAYMENT OF ANY AMOUNT' (legal tender declaration); 'FINANCIAL AND DEVELOPMENT SECRETARY' (authorizing official title); 'MONTIS CALPE INSIGNIA' (Latin: 'Insignia of Mount Calpe,' referring to Gibraltar's classical Roman name). BACK SIDE: '£10' and 'TEN POUNDS' (denomination repeated for security and identification).

Intaglio engraving (line engraving) executed by Thomas de la Rue, London, the world-renowned security printer. The visual analysis confirms the characteristic fine parallel line work, intricate shading, and precise decorative patterns typical of banknote-grade intaglio production. Complex security elements including fine-line borders, detailed portraiture, and architectural rendering were produced using traditional steel plate engraving methods, standard for British currency printers of this period.

This note is catalogued as Pick P-22a, indicating it is the primary variety of the 1975 10 Pound issue. PMG records identify six catalogued variants for this base Pick number (P-22CS1, P-22a, P-22as, P-22b, P-22bs, P-22s), all printed by Thomas de la Rue. The P-22a designation is the standard 1975 issue without significant distinguishing marks from other variants in the series. The serial number observed (A323910) shows the standard letter-number format used for circulation notes of this period. No overprints, signature varieties, or other notable differentiating features are apparent that would elevate this to a distinct scarce sub-variety.