10 pounds 1980

Common. The 1980 Irish £10 note (Pick P-72a) was issued in substantial quantities by the Central Bank of Ireland and remains readily available in the numismatic market. Uncirculated examples are frequently encountered and represent typical circulation-era Irish currency rather than a scarce or limited issue. The note's common status reflects the standard production volumes for this denomination during normal currency circulation periods of the early 1980s.

Issued in 1980, this banknote represents Ireland's currency during a period of economic transition following the country's entry into the European Economic Community in 1973. The reverse depicts a historical Dublin streetscape including Great Abbey Street, Batchelors Walk, and Aston Quay, preserving imagery of the capital's architectural heritage and commercial waterfront. The bilingual inscriptions reflect Ireland's official language policy, with both Irish (Gaeilge) and English text honoring the nation's cultural identity during the early decades of the modern Irish state.

The obverse features a historical male portrait occupying the right side of the note, depicted with long curled hair and period clothing characteristic of 18th or 19th-century Irish historical figures. The portrait is rendered in fine intaglio detail against a background of repeated script text serving as a security feature. A prominent coat of arms with heraldic castle/fortification imagery and decorative wings is positioned in the center, framed ornately. The reverse showcases a meticulously engraved cityscape of Dublin as it appeared historically, depicting street-level architectural details of Great Abbey Street, Batchelors Walk, and Aston Quay with sailing vessels visible in the harbor area. The architectural elements and street names are integrated into the engraving itself, creating both a documentary and decorative effect. The color scheme throughout is predominantly pink and mauve with brown and purple intaglio printing, creating a distinctive aesthetic characteristic of Irish pound currency.

FRONT SIDE: 'banc geanndhais na h-éireann' (Central Bank of Ireland) | 'I gcláraíonn' (In records/registered) | 'ar dheis púill' (on the right side) | 'an t-odhairn' (the treasury) | 'Tamás F Besteigh' (Thomas F. Besteigh - signature) | 'rúnaí na roinne airgeadais' (Secretary of Finance) | '£10' (10 pounds) | 'KCC 891817 08:12:80' (serial number and date code). BACK SIDE: 'GREAT ABBY STREET' | 'THE LOT' | 'BATCHELORS WALK' | 'ASTON QUAY' | 'central bank of ireland' (Central Bank of Ireland) | '£10' (10 pounds) | 'legal tender' (legal tender).

Intaglio engraving (line engraving/copperplate printing) with multiple color plates. The note demonstrates fine line work, stippling, and detailed security features including a repeated script background pattern that functions as an integrated security element. This represents the traditional high-security printing methods employed by the Central Bank of Ireland for currency production during this period, with characteristic sharp detail work and precise color registration visible throughout both sides of the note.

This note is cataloged as Pick P-72a, identified by its Lady Lavery watermark. PMG records indicate three variants for the base Pick number (P-72a, P-72b, and P-72s), with P-72a and P-72b distinguished by watermark type and P-72s representing a specimen note. The serial number visible on this note (KCC 891817 with date code 08:12:80) indicates a December 8, 1980 issue date. The signature of Thomas F. Besteigh as Secretary of Finance is present, consistent with this variant and period.