1 pound 1961
“23.01.61”
About This Note
This is a VF-graded one pound note from the Bank of Rhodesia and Nyasaland dated 23rd January 1961, representing currency from the final year of the Federation before its dissolution. The note displays characteristic green and beige tones with a portrait of a woman on the obverse and a scenic landscape on the reverse, both well-executed in period intaglio style. Despite evident creasing and light foxing consistent with circulation, the note remains legible and displays the full design including the leopard emblem and coat of arms, making it a solid representative example of this brief-lived currency.
Common. The Bank of Rhodesia and Nyasaland operated for a decade (1953-1963) and issued standard circulation currency in reasonable quantities during this period. While the Federation itself was short-lived and these notes were ultimately demonetized, they were not recalled immediately or in exceptional circumstances, and substantial quantities remain in collector hands. A VF-graded example from 1961 represents standard-condition circulated material typical of the series, with no premium rarity factors evident.
The Bank of Rhodesia and Nyasaland issued this note during the final months of the Central African Federation (1953-1963), a political union of Northern Rhodesia (Zambia), Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe), and Nyasaland (Malawi). Dated just months before the Federation's dissolution in December 1963, this note represents a transitional period in Southern African monetary history. The reverse's depiction of natural Rhodesian landscape and the prominent leopard symbolism reflect the regional identity and wildlife heritage central to the Federation's imagery.
The obverse features a formal portrait of a woman in profile facing right, positioned within a circular medallion on the right side of the note, rendered in the classical style typical of Commonwealth currency. The reverse depicts a naturalistic landscape scene characteristic of Rhodesian terrain, featuring rocky outcrops, trees, and vegetation rendered in green and brown tones against a pinkish sky. Central to the front design is the coat of arms of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, flanked by ornate floral and decorative borders. A leopard head illustration appears in the lower left of the obverse, representing the regional wildlife and serving as a heraldic emblem. The design employs a color palette of green, beige, cream, and brown across both sides, with denomination symbols (£1) positioned in all four corners.
FRONT: 'Bank of Rhodesia and Nyasaland' (issuing authority); 'I promise to pay the bearer on demand the sum of One Pound' (legal tender promise); 'For the Bank of Rhodesia and Nyasaland' (authority attribution); 'Governor' (signature line); 'Salisbury' (place of issue); '23rd January, 1961' (issue date); Serial number 'X 844881'; '£1' denomination markers in corners. BACK: 'Bank of Rhodesia Nyasaland' (issuing authority); 'One Pound' (denomination); '£1' denomination markers in corners.
This note was produced using intaglio (recess) printing, the standard security printing method for Commonwealth currency of the period. The fine line work visible in the decorative borders, portraiture rendering, and heraldic elements, combined with the observed ink characteristics and the presence of watermark circles, are consistent with high-security intaglio production. The Bank of Rhodesia and Nyasaland's currency was typically printed by De La Rue, the primary Commonwealth currency printer of this era, though specific attribution would require verification against printer's marks.
This note is identified as Pick 21b, indicating it is a specific variety within the 1961 one pound series. The serial number prefix 'X' and the date '23.01.61' are consistent with the early issue period. The signature line visible for the Governor position may vary across specimens depending on who held the office at the time of printing. No overprints or unusual markings are evident in this specimen.
