1 dollar 1979

Common. The Reserve Bank of Rhodesia's 1 dollar note from 1979 (Pick 38a) was part of the final standard circulation issue before political transition and was produced in substantial quantities for general circulation. While uncirculated examples in high grades command modest premiums over circulated specimens, the note itself is readily available to collectors. The PMG 67 grade represents an exceptional condition for this note type, but the underlying denomination and series are not scarce.

This 1 dollar note was issued on August 3, 1979, during the final transitional period of Rhodesia, just months before the country's political transformation. The imagery—featuring both agricultural landscape and the official coat of arms with supporting antelopes—reflects Rhodesia's identity as a resource and agriculture-based economy. The Reserve Bank of Rhodesia issued this denomination as part of its final series before the nation's status changed, making notes from this specific date historically significant to collectors of African currency and post-colonial numismatics.

The obverse features a well-balanced composition with the Reserve Bank of Rhodesia's emblem centered at the top. The left side displays a standing meerkat (or similar small mammal), symbolizing Rhodesian fauna. The central focus is an ornate oval cartouche containing the promise to pay statement in traditional banknote format. The right side is dominated by the Rhodesian coat of arms—a shield supported by two antelope figures, representing the nation's wildlife heritage and national identity. The color scheme employs blue as the primary color with pale green/cream undertones, creating a distinguished and formal appearance appropriate to currency. The reverse depicts an agricultural landscape engraving, showing cultivated grain fields in the foreground with a mountain range in the background under a lined sky pattern, emphasizing Rhodesia's agricultural economy. Ornamental borders frame all sides of the note on both faces.

FRONT SIDE: 'RESERVE BANK OF RHODESIA' (header); '$1' (denomination); 'I promise to pay the bearer on demand ONE DOLLAR FOR THE RESERVE BANK OF RHODESIA' (promise to pay statement in ornate cartouche); 'Governor' (signature line); 'SALISBURY 3RD AUGUST 1979' (place and date of issue); Serial number 'L/115 5780011' (in red ink, upper left and lower right). BACK SIDE: 'RESERVE BANK OF RHODESIA' (header); '$1' (denomination); 'ONE DOLLAR' (denomination text). All text is in English, the official language of Rhodesia.

The note employs multiple printing techniques including intaglio engraving for the fine line work visible throughout the design, particularly in the landscape scene on the reverse and the detailed coat of arms. The color printing shows sophisticated multi-color offset or letterpress work, with the blue and cream base colors combined with black engraved elements. The red serial numbers were likely applied via a separate specialized print run. Security features include fine line engraving patterns and a watermark area in the center of the obverse, typical of Reserve Bank of Rhodesia currency production during this period.

This specific example bears the serial number prefix 'L/115' with the serial number '5780011', issued in Salisbury on August 3, 1979. The signature line for the Governor is present on the obverse. Pick catalog number 38a denotes the 1979 issue; collectors should note that serial number prefixes and signature varieties exist within this pick number. This particular specimen represents the standard 1979 variety with no noted overprints or special markings.