1 pound 1977
Market Prices
3 salesAbout This Note
This is an uncirculated 1977 Provincial Bank of Ireland Limited one pound note (Pick P-247a), featuring exceptional clarity and crispness with no visible wear or damage. The obverse displays a portrait of a young woman rendered in green and multicolored inks with intricate Celtic ornamentation, while the reverse showcases a detailed engraving of the sailing ship Girona. As a specimen from a Northern Ireland provincial bank during the post-decimalisation era, this note represents an important piece of regional banking history with strong appeal to both Irish currency and maritime history collectors.
Common. While specific print run data for Pick P-247a is not definitively known, the eBay market data provided shows UNC specimens selling for $23-29 range (with one 2019 catalog value of $45), indicating moderate collector interest but regular availability. The Provincial Bank of Ireland Limited notes from this era were issued in substantial quantities as regular circulation currency for Northern Ireland, and this particular note's uncirculated state, while desirable, does not command premium rarity pricing typical of scarce or rare issues.
Issued on 1st January 1977, this note was produced during a period of significant monetary transition in Northern Ireland, issued by the Provincial Bank of Ireland Limited—a member institution of Allied Irish Banks Ltd, established in London in 1825. The prominent depiction of the Girona, a notable Spanish galleon wrecked off the Irish coast in 1588, reflects Northern Ireland's maritime heritage and the historical consciousness embedded in the region's currency design during the 1970s.
The obverse features a dignified portrait of a young woman with short dark hair positioned on the right side, rendered with fine engraving technique. The left and center portions incorporate elaborate Celtic spiral motifs and geometric patterns characteristic of Irish design traditions, with ornamental shields and heraldic elements displayed prominently. The reverse presents the Girona as a detailed maritime vignette—a fully-rigged Spanish galleon with billowing sails, rendered with meticulous engraving showing individual rigging details and sail geometry. Both sides feature large ornamental numerals '1' in multiple corners, decorative urns, and elaborate Celtic border patterns. The dominant color palette of green with cream/beige, pink/rose, and blue accents creates a visually sophisticated and distinctly Irish aesthetic.
FRONT SIDE: 'Provincial Bank of Ireland Limited (A MEMBER BANK OF ALLIED IRISH BANKS LTD) Established in London 1825' / 'PROMISE TO PAY THE BEARER ON DEMAND One Pound AT BELFAST 1ST JANUARY 1977' / 'FOR PROVINCIAL BANK OF IRELAND LIMITED' / Signature line marked 'MANAGER' / Serial number: PN000229. BACK SIDE: 'POUND POUND' / 'One Pound' / 'THE GIRONA'
This banknote was produced using fine line intaglio engraving, the traditional and premium security printing method characteristic of British currency production. The printer was Thomas de la Rue, London—the renowned British security printer responsible for producing banknotes for numerous Commonwealth and international institutions. The complexity of the Celtic geometric patterns, the fine detail in the ship's rigging, and the multiple decorative elements indicate multi-plate intaglio engraving with careful registration to achieve the multicolor effect observed.
This specimen bears the serial number PN000229, indicating it is from the early production run of this series (low serial number prefix PN). The note is dated 1ST JANUARY 1977, representing the inaugural date of this Provincial Bank issue. The Pick catalog references both 1977 and 1979 dates for this type, indicating multiple date varieties exist within P-247a. The visual analysis confirms this as the standard design variety without reported overprints or exceptional printing anomalies.
