1 pound 1966
Market Prices
4 salesAbout This Note
An exceptional example of the 1966 Ulster Bank Limited One Pound note (Pick 321) in uncirculated condition, featuring a striking blue-grey obverse with industrial Belfast imagery including a prominent bridge and waterfront scene, complemented by a formally heraldic reverse with Celtic knotwork and winged supporters. The note displays sharp, crisp printing throughout with no visible wear, creases, or foxing, representing a pristine specimen of this Northern Irish currency issue. The combination of industrial Belfast iconography and traditional heraldic design makes this a particularly interesting note for collectors of regional British currency and 20th-century banknote history.
Common. The 1966 Ulster Bank Limited One Pound note (Pick 321) was a regular issue produced in substantial quantities for active circulation in Northern Ireland, and examples remain readily available in the collector market. eBay market data confirms this assessment: recent sales of UNC examples range from $36-$59 (with PMG-graded specimens commanding premiums), indicating steady but not exceptional collector demand. The 2019 catalog valuation of $65 for UNC specimens and current secondary market pricing suggest this is a standard issue note with no significant scarcity factors—no short print run, recall, or limited issuing period distinguishes it. While well-regarded by regional collectors and sought after for type sets of British regional currency, the note remains fundamentally common.
Issued on 4th October 1966, this note represents Ulster Bank Limited's commitment to the bearer standard during a period of significant economic activity in Northern Ireland. The prominent depiction of Belfast's industrial waterfront with its bridge and shipping infrastructure reflects the city's importance as a major port and manufacturing center during the 1960s, while the heraldic reverse symbolizes provincial identity and banking authority within the United Kingdom's regional currency system. This was a formative period for Ulster Bank's banknote design, establishing visual themes of industrial progress and civic pride that distinguished Northern Irish currency from Bank of England issues.
The obverse features a dual-view composition of Belfast's industrial landscape, with the left side showing rural/mountainous terrain and the right displaying urban factories with smokestacks, unified by a central waterfront scene depicting a bridge spanning the harbor with a vessel in the water—this imagery celebrates Belfast's role as a major industrial and shipping port. The design incorporates ornate circular denomination cartouches in the top corners (each containing '1'), a decorative rosette pattern in the central field behind the promise-to-pay text, and floral border elements, all executed in light blue-grey with pink/mauve and orange accents. The reverse presents a formal heraldic composition with a central coat of arms (featuring shield and cross design) flanked by two winged supporters or heraldic creatures, enclosed within an ornamental Celtic knotwork border with heraldic shields and wreaths in each corner, creating a ceremonial and provincial identity. The dimensions are 151x72mm, and the dominant color scheme transitions from the working industrial blues and greys of the obverse to the more formal white/cream, pink, and purple heraldry of the reverse.
FRONT: 'ULSTER BANK LIMITED' (issuing institution name); 'ULSTER BANK LIMITED PROMISE TO PAY THE BEARER ON DEMAND AT HEAD OFFICE BELFAST' (standard bearer note promise); 'ONE POUND' (denomination); 'FOR ULSTER BANK LIMITED' (authorization statement); '4TH OCTOBER, 1966' (issue date); '729977' (serial number). BACK: 'ULSTER BANK LIMITED' (issuing institution); '£1' (denomination symbol); 'NIHIL IMPOSSIBILE ERAT VOBIS' (Latin motto meaning 'Nothing is impossible for you'); 'BRADBURY, WILKINSON & CO LTD NEW MALDEN, SURREY, ENGLAND' (printer attribution).
Intaglio (engraved) printing executed by Bradbury, Wilkinson & Co Ltd, New Malden, Surrey—a world-renowned security printer specializing in banknote production. The visual analysis confirms characteristic intaglio security features including intricate engraved decorative patterns, fine line work throughout, ornamental security borders, and the complex Celtic knotwork and heraldic designs that would be impossible to reproduce via lithography. The multi-color printing was achieved through successive intaglio passes, a standard technique for high-security banknote production during this era. The sharpness and clarity of impression visible in the UNC specimen confirms the quality control standards maintained by Bradbury, Wilkinson during this production run.
The observed specimen displays serial number 729977, which falls within the standard numbering sequence for this 1966 issue. No significant variety markers are apparent from the visual analysis—the signature visible on the obverse, while characteristic of the issuing authority, does not constitute a documented variety. The issue date of 4th October 1966 is consistent with all examples of this Pick number. No overprints, prefix variations, or other distinguishing characteristics that would elevate this to a recognized variety are evident. This represents a standard circulation issue without documented scarce varieties known to collectors.
