1 gourde 1973 radar
“radar #”
About This Note
This is a 1973 Haitian 1 Gourde note in uncirculated condition, featuring a striking portrait of President François Duvalier in formal attire against a light blue background with ornate baroque-style borders. The reverse displays Haiti's national coat of arms—a palm tree with flags and crossed cannons—within an elaborate decorative medallion. The note exhibits the hallmark fine engraving and cross-hatching security features characteristic of American Bank Note Company's work, with minimal wear and only light aging spotting consistent with proper preservation.
Common. The 1973 Haitian 1 Gourde (P-210(2-1)) was issued in substantial quantities by the American Bank Note Company and remains readily available in today's numismatic market. Uncirculated examples are regularly encountered in collector circles and typically command modest premiums. The radar serial number mentioned in the collector notes may add minor collector interest, but does not significantly elevate the rarity classification of this generally common issue.
This note was issued in November 1973 under the regime of François Duvalier, who had declared himself 'President for Life' (as prominently inscribed on the obverse). The imagery reflects Haiti's national identity through the coat of arms on the reverse, which features the palm tree and cannons symbolizing Haiti's revolutionary heritage and independence. The fixed exchange rate of 5 gourdes to 1 US dollar noted on the note reflects Haiti's monetary policy during this period of the Duvalier dictatorship.
The obverse features a central portrait of President Dr. François Duvalier, depicted wearing eyeglasses and formal attire consisting of a white dress shirt and dark jacket, rendered against a light turquoise background. The design is framed by elaborate baroque-style ornamental borders with decorative scrollwork and floral flourishes in all four corners, accented with cross symbols representing religious or heraldic significance. The reverse displays Haiti's coat of arms as the focal point, rendered within an ornate circular medallion surrounded by symmetric baroque scrollwork. The coat of arms depicts a royal palm tree (Haiti's national symbol) positioned prominently, with Haitian flags on either side and crossed cannons beneath, all rendered in fine detail. Decorative cross symbols and baroque ornaments frame the central medallion, maintaining the symmetric design scheme. Both sides employ fine line engraving, cross-hatching, and intricate detail work throughout.
{"front":{"institution":"BANQUE NATIONALE DE LA RÉPUBLIQUE D'HAÏTI (National Bank of the Republic of Haiti)","denomination":"UNE GOURD (One Gourde)","portrait_identification":"DOCTEUR FRANÇOIS DUVALIER PRÉSIDENT À VIE (Doctor François Duvalier President for Life)","legal_text":"CE BILLET, ÉMIS CONFORMÉMENT À LA CONSTITUTION DE LA RÉPUBLIQUE D'HAÏTI, EST PAYABLE AU PORTEUR EN MONNAIE LÉGALE DES ÉTATS-UNIS D'AMÉRIQUE AU TAUX DE CINQ GOURDES POUR UN DOLLAR. (This note, issued in accordance with the Constitution of the Republic of Haiti, is payable to bearer in legal currency of the United States of America at the rate of five gourdes for one dollar.)","signatures":"LE PRÉSIDENT (The President), LE DIRECTEUR (The Director), UN ADMINISTRATEUR (An Administrator)","printer":"AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY"},"back":{"national_motto":"L'UNION FAIT LA FORCE (Unity Makes Strength)","institution":"BANQUE NATIONALE DE LA RÉPUBLIQUE D'HAÏTI (National Bank of the Republic of Haiti)","denomination":"UNE GOURD (One Gourde)","date_and_legal_text":"DÉCEMBRE 1973 / CONFORMÉMENT À LA CONSTITUTION AU TAUX DE CINQ GOURDES POUR UN DOLLAR (December 1973 / In accordance with the Constitution at the rate of five gourdes for one dollar)","printer":"AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY"}}
Intaglio engraving (line engraving), executed by the American Bank Note Company of New York. The printing technique is evident in the fine line patterns, detailed cross-hatching, and the precise rendering of the portrait and coat of arms. The security features, including the intricate engraved borders and complex line work throughout, are characteristic of high-security intaglio currency production of the era.
The specific variety notation P-210(2-1) indicates this is the second listed variety of P-210, likely distinguished by signature combinations, overprints, or serial number characteristics. The radar serial number (Q1244421) noted in the collector comments is a numismatic variety where the serial number reads the same forwards and backwards, making it a desirable subset to specialists. This particular example should be cataloged with its full serial number for variety identification purposes.
