5 pounds 1964
About This Note
This is an exceptional example of Rhodesia's first banknote issue, the 5 Pounds note from 1964, graded UNC and displaying pristine condition throughout. The note features elegant intaglio engraving with a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II on the obverse and a striking depiction of the Great Zimbabwe ruins on the reverse, rendered in sophisticated blue-grey and purple-mauve tones. As the inaugural currency of the newly independent Reserve Bank of Rhodesia, this note represents a pivotal moment in Southern African numismatic history and remains highly collectible in uncirculated condition.
Common. The 1964 Five Pounds note was the flagship denomination of Rhodesia's first banknote series and saw substantial circulation during the early years of the Reserve Bank. While historical significance and the eventual political isolation of Rhodesia have made these notes collectible, no evidence suggests extremely limited print runs or short-lived production. UNC examples are desirable but regularly available in the collector market at moderate prices, consistent with common status for this Pick number.
Issued on November 10, 1964, this note commemorates Rhodesia's independence and the establishment of the Reserve Bank of Rhodesia as the nation's central bank. The reverse features the Great Zimbabwe ruins—the iconic archaeological site that symbolized the country's historical heritage and was central to Rhodesian national identity. The portrait on the obverse represents the British Commonwealth connection at the time of independence, reflecting Rhodesia's constitutional status as a former British colony transitioning to sovereign nationhood.
The obverse displays a formal portrait of Queen Elizabeth II in profile facing right, rendered in purple-mauve intaglio engraving, positioned on the right side of the note. The lower left features an impala or similar antelope, a native wildlife motif reflecting Rhodesian natural heritage. A heraldic coat of arms is centered at the top, with ornate decorative borders and floral/leaf motifs in all four corners. The reverse presents a detailed engraved landscape of the Great Zimbabwe ruins complex, showing the distinctive large circular stone towers and fortification walls surrounded by trees and vegetation—a major archaeological landmark that serves as the historical centerpiece of the design. The entire composition employs fine-line engraving patterns characteristic of high-security banknote production.
FRONT: 'Reserve Bank of Rhodesia' (issuing authority); 'I promise to pay the bearer on demand Five Pounds for the Reserve Bank of Rhodesia' (promise clause); 'Salisbury, 10th November, 1964' (date and place of issue); 'Governor' (signing authority); Serial number 'F 252609' (appears twice); '£5' (denomination). BACK: 'Reserve Bank of Rhodesia' (issuing authority); 'Five Pounds' (denomination); 'Bradbury, Wilkinson & Co Ltd New Malden, Surrey, England' (printer attribution).
Intaglio (engraved) printing, as evidenced by the fine line work, precise detail, complex border patterns, and sharp architectural rendering throughout both sides. The printer is identified as Bradbury, Wilkinson & Co Ltd of New Malden, Surrey, England—one of the world's premier security printers and a standard choice for Commonwealth banknote production of this era.
This example is identified as Pick 26, the standard 1964 issue dated 10th November 1964, with signature authority as 'Governor.' Serial number F 252609 indicates a mid-range serial from the first series. Known varieties for this Pick number include different signature combinations of successive governors, though the specific governor's signature is not clearly legible in the provided images. Prefix letter 'F' falls within the normal range for the initial circulation series.
