1 leone 1978

Common. This is a regular-issue banknote from a standard production run spanning 1974-1984, printed by a major security printer (Thomas De La Rue) in quantities consistent with normal currency circulation. The catalog data shows this is Pick P-5b, one of at least 11 documented variants for this base Pick number, indicating substantial production. Market data from realbanknotes.com shows UNC examples catalogued at $10 (2019 estimate) and selling on eBay in the $15-17.50 range, which is typical for common African banknotes in uncirculated condition. There is no evidence of scarcity from short print runs, recall, or limited availability.

This 1978 issue reflects Sierra Leone's monetary stability during the presidency of Siaka Stevens, whose portrait appears prominently on the obverse. The depiction of the Bank of Sierra Leone's headquarters building on the reverse underscores the nation's institutional development and central banking infrastructure during the post-independence period. The formal 'promise to pay on demand' language and professional engraving quality by Thomas De La Rue indicate the international standards applied to Sierra Leone's currency during this era.

The obverse features a left-facing portrait of President Siaka Stevens wearing a traditional white cap, rendered in fine detail with cross-hatching. The reverse depicts the Bank of Sierra Leone's modern institutional building with distinctive horizontal banding and a central entrance structure, accompanied by the nation's coat of arms on both left and right sides—the left featuring palm trees and heraldic elements, the right showing a shield with national symbols. The denomination appears in the corners, and both sides include a prominent circular watermark space (watermark type: lion's head, per catalog data). The ornamental borders incorporate repeating geometric patterns and decorative scrollwork characteristic of high-security banknote design.

Front side: 'BANK OF SIERRA LEONE' (issuing authority), 'promise to pay on demand the sum of' (standard currency promise), 'ONE LEONE' (denomination), 'GOVERNOR' (signatory title), 'DEPUTY GOVERNOR' (signatory title), 'DIRECTORS' (signatory title), '1ST JANUARY 1978' (issue date), 'A 9 173929' (serial number). Back side: 'BANK OF SIERRA LEONE' (issuing authority), 'ONE LEONE' (denomination), 'THOMAS DE LA RUE & COMPANY, LIMITED' (printer attribution), '1' (denomination corner marking).

Intaglio engraving with multicolor letterpress printing. The note exhibits the characteristic fine line work, cross-hatching detail, and color transitions typical of Thomas De La Rue's security printing standards. Multiple color layers (greens, pinks, purples, golds, tans, blacks) were applied in sequence to create the multicolor underprint effect. The sharp definition of portrait detail and architectural elements indicates professional engraving plates and precise register alignment.

This note is catalogued as Pick P-5b, representing a specific variant within the 1 Leone 1978 issue. The visual analysis confirms serial number prefix 'A/9' (consistent with the documented A/8-A/12 prefix range for regular issues). The note is a regular issue, not a replacement note (which would carry prefix Z/1). Per PMG population data, multiple variants exist for this Pick number including P-5a, P-5a*, P-5as, P-5bs, P-5cs, P-5d, P-5ds, P-5e, P-5e*, and P-5s, suggesting variations in signature combinations, dates, or security features across the broader 1978 issuance.