10 leones 1980
Market Prices
6 salesAbout This Note
This is a pristine UNC example of the Sierra Leone 10 Leones P-13 from 1980, a commemorative issue celebrating the Organisation of African Unity Conference held in Freetown. The note features President Siaka Stevens in profile on the obverse and an impressive architectural rendering of a dredger/industrial structure on the reverse, printed by Thomas de la Rue with exceptional detail and sharp impressions throughout. The cream and multicolor palette with ornate geometric borders and security guilloche patterns reflects the high production standards of this commemorative issue, making it an attractive example for collectors of African currency.
Common. Secondary market data from 2015-2022 shows consistent UNC sales ranging from $67–$97, with catalog values (2019) at $30 for UNC. The note entered regular circulation and was produced in sufficient quantity for the commemorative occasion. Serial number A 001216 suggests a note from early in the production run, but this carries no particular premium in the market data observed. The consistent pricing across multiple sales and modest catalog valuation indicate this is a standard, readily available issue for collectors of Sierra Leone currency.
Issued on July 1, 1980, this note commemorates a significant moment in Pan-African history—the Organisation of African Unity Conference held in Freetown. President Siaka Stevens, whose portrait appears on the obverse, led Sierra Leone during this period of continental political engagement. The reverse depicts an industrial dredging operation, reflecting the nation's economic priorities and development focus during the early 1980s.
The obverse features a portrait of President Siaka Stevens in formal attire and traditional cap, positioned on the left side and shown in left-facing profile. A circular emblem containing a map of Africa appears on the left, symbolizing Pan-African unity appropriate to the OAU commemoration. Ornate geometric borders with interlocking decorative motifs frame the design in the corners, rendered in green and black on the cream underprint base. The reverse depicts a substantial multi-story dredging vessel or industrial structure built over water on elevated stilts and platforms, rendered in fine engraved black line work. A circular seal or coat of arms appears in the upper right, with matching decorative border patterns and wave motifs consistent with the obverse design.
Front side: 'BANK OF SIERRA LEONE' (issuing authority), 'promise to pay on demand the sum of TEN LEONES' (legal tender clause), 'COMMEMORATING THE ORGANISATION OF AFRICAN UNITY CONFERENCE - FREETOWN - 1980 - 1ST JULY 1980' (commemorative overprint text), signatures identified as 'GOVERNOR', 'DEPUTY GOVERNOR', and 'DIRECTORS', serial number 'A 001216', denomination marking '10'. Back side: 'BANK OF SIERRA LEONE' (issuing authority), 'TEN LEONES' (denomination), 'THOMAS DE LA RUE & COMPANY, LIMITED' (printer credit), denomination marking '10'.
Intaglio engraving (recess printing) executed by Thomas de la Rue & Company, Limited, London. The visual analysis reveals characteristic fine-line guilloche patterns, intricate geometric security designs, and sharp detail throughout the architectural illustration and portrait work—all hallmarks of high-quality intaglio production. The multicolor printing was accomplished through the standard multi-pass intaglio process employed by de la Rue for premium banknote production.
This specific example carries the serial number 'A 001216' and represents an early production serial number from the initial issuance. The note is a commemorative overprint variety of the base P-8 design, specifically reissued for the July 1, 1980 OAU Conference commemoration. PMG cataloging confirms P-13 as a single-variant Pick number for this denomination and date. No significant varieties (signature variants, date variants, or overprint position variants) have been documented for this issue in standard references.
