1 pound 1971
Market Prices
About This Note
This is an uncirculated 1971 Central Bank of Ireland one pound note (Pick P-64c), notable for its security thread variant designation. The note displays pristine condition with sharp, clear engraving throughout, featuring an elegant woman's portrait on the obverse and a classical bearded male head on the reverse, both rendered in fine line engraving against ornate Celtic-patterned borders. The bilingual English-Irish inscriptions and crisp margins confirm this as a premium example of Ireland's early decimal-era currency.
Common. The 1971 Irish one pound note (P-64c) is a regular issue from the Central Bank of Ireland with no indication of limited print runs or recalls. The eBay price tracking data for the broader series shows UNC examples trading in the $25–$175 USD range, with most sales under $100, indicating steady collector demand but no scarcity premium. As a standard issue from a stable national bank with relatively high production volumes, this variety should be considered common in both circulated and uncirculated grades.
Issued on 8 July 1971 by the Central Bank of Ireland, this one pound note represents the early years of the Central Bank's banknote production following Irish independence. The design incorporates distinctly Irish cultural elements—Celtic knot patterns, the harp symbol, and bilingual presentation in English and Irish—reflecting Ireland's post-colonial national identity. The classical male portrait on the reverse may reference Irish historical or cultural heritage, while the female portrait on the obverse represents Erin, the personification of Ireland itself.
The obverse features a left-facing portrait of a woman wearing a head covering, identified as Erin (the allegorical personification of Ireland), rendered in fine classical style within an ornate oval frame. The reverse displays a classical bearded male head in relief sculpture style, centered within an elaborate decorative frame featuring symmetrical Celtic knot patterns and scalloped border designs. Both sides employ intricate ornamental scrollwork in the corners with multiple denomination markers. The color scheme of green and cream on white stock is characteristic of this series, with black engraving providing sharp detail throughout.
FRONT: 'THE CENTRAL BANK OF / BANC CEANNAIS NA / IRELAND / ÉIREANN' (The Central Bank of Ireland); 'ONE POUND / PUNT' (One Pound); 'LEGAL TENDER / NOTA DHÍTHAIRGTHE' (Legal Tender); signature line 'GOVERNOR / AN GOBHARNÓIR' and 'SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE / RÚNAÍ NA ROINNE AIRGEADAIS'; Serial number: 59J9840271; Date: 8·7·71 (8 July 1971). BACK: No inscriptions visible in the visual analysis provided.
Intaglio (recess/engraving) printing, identified by the fine line engraving, intricate hatching patterns, and the tactile quality typical of banknote production. The Central Bank of Ireland's banknotes from this period were produced by established European security printers; the quality and sophistication of the engraving suggests production by a premier security printing facility. The security thread noted in the P-64c designation would have been incorporated during the papermaking process.
This note is specifically the P-64c variety, distinguished by the inclusion of a security thread (the primary differentiating feature from P-64a and P-64b, which feature the 'Head of Erin' watermark). The PMG population report identifies four catalogued variants (P-64a through P-64d), all bearing the one pound denomination but with varying security features and watermarks. The serial number 59J9840271 and the printing date of 8 July 1971 on this example are consistent with first-year production of this series.
