50 cents 1980
Market Prices
4 salesAbout This Note
This is an uncirculated 1980 Bank of Sierra Leone 50 cents commemorative note celebrating the Organisation of African Unity Conference held in Freetown. The note features President Siaka Stevens in traditional dress on the obverse, complemented by decorative pink flowers, while the reverse depicts the Bank of Sierra Leone building in Freetown. In pristine UNC condition with no visible wear, the note exemplifies the fine line engraving work characteristic of Thomas de la Rue's production, making it an attractive example of this commemorative issue.
Common. The eBay sales data shows UNC examples selling in the $39-$68 range in recent years, with 2019 catalogue values at $15 UNC and $4 VF. Regular issue commemorative notes from major African central banks typically had substantial print runs. The consistent availability of UNC examples in the secondary market, combined with moderate pricing below $70 even for high-grade specimens with strong bidding, confirms this is a readily obtainable note for collectors.
Issued on 1 July 1980, this note commemorates Sierra Leone's hosting of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) Conference in Freetown, a significant diplomatic event in West African history. The portrait of President Siaka Stevens, who led Sierra Leone during this period, appears on the obverse as a symbol of national leadership, while the reverse depicts the Bank of Sierra Leone's headquarters building in Freetown, reflecting the nation's institutional development during the post-independence era.
The obverse features a formal portrait of President Siaka Stevens positioned at the left side, depicted wearing a traditional white cap in profile/three-quarter view, establishing the note's connection to Sierra Leone's political leadership. The upper left contains the coat of arms or national symbols. The right side is adorned with decorative pink flowers with green leaves, adding aesthetic appeal. The reverse showcases a detailed architectural illustration of the Bank of Sierra Leone's modern institutional building in Freetown, rendered with fine horizontal striping and regular window patterns, surrounded by landscaping including trees and a vehicle in the foreground. Both sides employ a beige/cream base with brown/maroon decorative borders and geometric patterns, unified by consistent denomination markings in the corners.
FRONT: 'Bank of Sierra Leone' (issuing authority); 'Promise to Pay on Demand the Sum of' (standard currency promise); 'Fifty Cents' (denomination in words); '50' (denomination in numerals); 'Commemorating the Organisation of African Unity Conference Freetown 1980' (commemorative purpose); '1st July 1980' (issue date); '31 July 1980' (additional date marking); 'Governor', 'Deputy Governor', 'Directors' (signature line designations); Serial number 'A 000729'. BACK: 'Bank of Sierra Leone' (issuing authority); 'Fifty Cents' and '50' (denomination).
Intaglio engraving (line engraving) throughout, executed by Thomas de la Rue, London, one of the world's leading security printers. The visual analysis reveals intricate fine line patterns in both the portrait work and architectural rendering, characteristic of intaglio production, along with detailed geometric border designs and multiple security lines. This method provides both aesthetic quality and inherent security against counterfeiting.
This is the primary Pick-9 variety with printer marking TDLR (Thomas de la Rue, London). The serial number observed is A 000729, indicating an early printing from the A series. The note is specifically identified as a commemorative overprint version of the earlier Sierra Leone P-4, as noted in the catalog reference. PMG records indicate one documented variant for this Pick number, making this a straightforward, non-problematic issue without significant variety complications.
