1 pound 1967
Market Prices
4 salesAbout This Note
A well-preserved 1967 Isle of Man Government £1 note featuring a striking purple obverse with a young Queen Elizabeth II in profile and the distinctive Manx triskelion arms. The reverse depicts Tynwald Hill with its ceremonial mound, church, and Celtic interlaced borders in classic black-on-cream engraving. The note shows evidence of a single horizontal fold across the middle but otherwise displays the crispness and color saturation expected of an UNC-graded example from Bradbury Wilkinson & Co.
Common. This is a regular-issue note from the 1961–1967 series with substantial print runs typical of a functioning currency. eBay auction data shows VF examples trading in the $18–30 range, with UNC catalogue values around $180 (2019). The wide availability of graded examples across PMG and the modest price appreciation suggest no scarcity premium. The note is collectible but not rare.
Issued by the Isle of Man Government during a period of cultural and political assertion for the Crown Dependency, this note represents the island's independent monetary authority and celebrates its Scandinavian-influenced heritage through the triskelion symbol and the historic Tynwald Hill—site of the world's oldest continuous parliament (established 979 AD). The portrait of Elizabeth II as a young queen anchors the note within the Commonwealth tradition while the Celtic and Manx iconography emphasizes the island's distinct identity.
The obverse features Queen Elizabeth II in left-facing profile, rendered in the formal style typical of Commonwealth currency in the 1960s, positioned prominently on the right side. The central focus is the Manx coat of arms—the three-legged triskelion (triskele) within a circular seal inscribed 'Inque Jeceris'—positioned in the lower center and repeated as the watermark. Ornamental pound (£) symbols flank the portrait, with elaborate scrollwork borders and decorative leaf/floral motifs completing the purple-toned design. The reverse depicts the historically significant Tynwald Hill, showing the ceremonial mound with its cross, adjacent church building with spire, a flag pole, and undulating landscape background. A complex Celtic interlaced knot pattern forms a decorative border on all four sides, with denomination numerals '1' in ornamental cartouches at the lower corners.
FRONT: 'Isle of Man Government' / 'Promise to Pay the Bearer on Demand at Any Office of Isle of Man Bank Limited' / 'One Pound' / Serial number 'B 321219' / 'For the Government.' / 'Lieutenant Governor' / 'Inque Jeceris' (Latin: 'In whatever direction' — part of the triskelion motto meaning the legs move in any direction). BACK: 'One Pound' / 'Tynwald Hill' / 'John H Nicholson & Sons' / 'Bradbury, Wilkinson & Co Ltd New Malden, Surrey, England' / Denomination '1' in corner ornaments.
Intaglio (engraved) banknote printing by Bradbury, Wilkinson & Co Ltd, New Malden, Surrey, England—one of the world's premier security printers. The technique is evidenced by the fine line engraving visible throughout, complex background pattern work, intricate border designs, and the crisp, deeply-registered impression characteristic of intaglio currency production. The dual-color effect (purple/mauve on the obverse, black/cream on the reverse) was achieved through separate print runs on high-quality banknote paper.
This note is cataloged as Pick 25b, indicating it is the second major variety of the 1967 issue. Per the PMG Population Report, five variants exist for this base Pick number (P-25a, P-25b, P-25cts, P-25s1, P-25s3), with P-25cts specifically noted as having an 'Arms' watermark. The observed serial number 'B 321219' on the front appears consistent with standard distribution numbering. The presence of the triskelion watermark and the Bradbury Wilkinson printer mark ('BWC') are hallmarks of the P-25b variety. No signature variations or overprints are evident in this specimen.
