10 shillings 1975
Market Prices
16 salesAbout This Note
This is an exceptional uncirculated example of Kenya's 1975 10 shillings banknote (Pick P-12a), featuring a striking portrait of Mzee Jomo Kenyatta on the obverse and a pastoral scene with cattle and Mount Kenya on the reverse. The note displays pristine condition with sharp, well-defined intaglio printing, vibrant green and brown color palette, and intricate security features including fine-line engraving and geometric patterns throughout. This is one of Kenya's most iconic early independent currency issues and represents an important artifact of the nation's monetary history.
Common. This note was issued as a regular circulation issue by the Central Bank of Kenya over the 1975-1977 period, with substantial print runs typical of common denominations. eBay market data shows consistent sales in the $1–$21 range, with UNC examples bringing $13–$15 (2012–2021), and graded PMG specimens commanding higher premiums ($51–$186) primarily due to professional certification rather than inherent scarcity. The 2019 catalogue value of $15 UNC confirms this is a widely available note in the collector market.
Issued on 1st January 1975 by the Central Bank of Kenya, this note commemorates Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, Kenya's First President, whose portrait dominates the obverse. The reverse depicts Kenya's pastoral heritage with cattle grazing before Mount Kenya, symbolizing the nation's agricultural foundation and natural wealth during the early post-independence period. The bilingual inscription (Swahili and English) reflects Kenya's commitment to national language recognition alongside colonial administrative continuity in the mid-1970s.
The obverse features a left-facing portrait of Mzee Jomo Kenyatta (Kenya's first president, 1964-1978) rendered in fine detail, positioned on the left side of the note. The center is dominated by an ornate circular emblem—Kenya's national coat of arms—displaying intricate geometric lattice patterns in blue, red, and orange. The design incorporates decorative floral and leaf motifs in the corners, with a green and brown color scheme forming the primary palette. The reverse depicts a pastoral landscape with multiple horned cattle grazing in the foreground on grassland, with Mount Kenya's snow-capped peak rising in the background amid vegetation, rendered in greens, browns, and grays with pink/purple highlights on the mountain. Both sides feature decorative security borders with repeated geometric patterns.
FRONT: 'BANKI KULU YA KENYA' (Swahili: Central Bank of Kenya) / 'CENTRAL BANK OF KENYA' (English) / 'LEGAL TENDER FOR TEN SHILLINGS' / 'SHILINGI KUMI' (Swahili: Ten shillings) / 'TEN SHILLINGS' / 'THE FIRST PRESIDENT OF KENYA' / 'MZEE JOMO KENYATTA' / 'FOR THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS' / '1ST JANUARY 1975' / 'GOVERNOR' / 'MEMBER' / Serial number 'B710277' / Denomination '10'. BACK: '10' (denomination markers) / 'TEN SHILLINGS'.
Intaglio engraving and printing (high-security currency printing method). The note exhibits characteristic fine-line work, intricate portrait rendering, and complex geometric patterns typical of intaglio production. Printer: TDLR (Thomas De La Rue), as catalogued in PMG population records for P-12a variety.
This example is identified as Pick P-12a (TDLR printer). PMG population data indicates two catalogued variants exist for the 10 shillings 1975 base note: P-12a and P-12c, both printed by TDLR. This specific note exhibits the P-12a characteristics, which is the standard variety. The serial number B710277 and date of 1st January 1975 are consistent with the issue date and standard serial numbering conventions for this printing.
