1 pound 1929

Common. The 1929 Palestine Currency Board 1 pound note is a regular issue from an extended production period (1927-1944) with substantial circulation. Market data from realbanknotes.com shows consistent eBay sales activity across multiple condition grades, with Fine specimens selling in the $400-470 range (2013-2021). The catalog 2016 value of $750 for Fine condition and the frequency of sales indicate this is a readily available note to collectors despite its historical significance. While individual examples become scarcer as condition improves, the note itself is not rare in the absolute sense.

Issued by the Palestine Currency Board between 1927-1944 during the British Mandate period, this note represents a crucial attempt to establish modern banking infrastructure in Palestine. The depicted landmarks—the Dome of the Rock and the fortified walls of Jerusalem's Old City—carry profound symbolic weight, representing the region's contested historical and religious significance to multiple communities. The trilingual presentation in English, Hebrew, and Arabic reflects the administrative reality of Mandate Palestine, where three linguistic communities coexisted under British oversight.

The obverse features a meticulously engraved vignette of the Dome of the Rock (Qubbat al-Sakhra) in Jerusalem, depicted as a detailed black and white architectural engraving positioned left-center. A large circular guilloche pattern occupies the right side as a security feature. The reverse displays the fortified walls and defensive structures of Jerusalem's Old City, including the Citadel (traditionally associated with David's Tower), rendered in fine intaglio within an ornamental circular frame. Both sides are bordered by intricate geometric and floral patterns in green, with decorative cartouches in Hebrew (upper left of reverse) and Arabic (upper right of reverse). The color scheme is predominantly green with black engraving on cream/tan paper stock. The trilingual design reflects the Mandate administration's need to address British, Jewish, and Arab populations simultaneously.

FRONT SIDE: 'PALESTINE CURRENCY BOARD' (English). 'CURRENCY NOTES ARE LEGAL TENDER FOR THE PAYMENT OF ANY AMOUNT' appears in English, Hebrew (שטרות כסף הן מטבע חוקי להשלום כל סכום שהוא), and Arabic. 'ONE PALESTINE POUND' / 'ﺟﻨﻴﻪ ﻓﻠﺴﻄﻴﻨﻲ' (Arabic) / 'לירה פלסטינית' (Hebrew). 'JERUSALEM' and the date '30th September, 1929'. 'MEMBERS OF THE PALESTINE CURRENCY BOARD' and 'THOMAS DE LA RUE & COMPANY, LIMITED, LONDON'. Serial number: H472926. BACK SIDE: 'ONE PALESTINE POUND' (English) / 'ﺟﻨﻴﻪ ﻓﻠﺴﻄﻴﻨﻲ' (Arabic) / 'לירה פלסטינית' (Hebrew). 'THOMAS DE LA RUE & COMPANY, LIMITED, LONDON'.

Intaglio engraving (line engraving) on banknote paper, executed by Thomas de la Rue & Company Limited of London, the premier British security printer. The fine line work visible in the borders, vignettes, and guilloche patterns is characteristic of intaglio production. The complexity of the geometric borders and the precision of the architectural details in both the Dome of the Rock and Jerusalem fortifications vignettes exemplify the high-security engraving standards of de la Rue's work during this period.

This specimen bears serial number H472926 with the prefix 'H', consistent with the 1929 printing of P-7b. The note is dated '30th September, 1929' on the obverse. Varieties for the 1 pound Palestine note primarily concern different date printings and serial number prefixes across the 1927-1944 production span. The 1929-dated examples represent early production and may show slight variations in printing quality or paper tone compared to later issues. No overprints or special markings are evident on this specimen.