25 piastres 1978
Market Prices
22 salesAbout This Note
A pristine uncirculated example of Sudan's 25 Piastres note from 1978, featuring the iconic Bank of Sudan building in Khartoum on the obverse in characteristic rose-pink coloring. The reverse depicts an industrial textile scene with period machinery and a worker, reflecting Sudan's manufacturing sector during this era. This note exhibits excellent preservation with sharp detail, crisp margins, and no signs of circulation—a desirable specimen for collectors of East African currency.
Common. eBay market data shows consistent sales ranging from $3.76 to $21.14 for various grades over the past decade, with UNC specimens regularly trading between $8-$18. The 2019 catalogue value for UNC is listed at $15, and recent UNC sales (2024) at $9.30 confirm this note circulates frequently in the collector market. The note had a substantial print run during the 1973-1980 issue period and remains readily available, indicating no print restrictions or recall that would elevate rarity.
Issued during Sudan's post-revolutionary period (1973-1980 series), this note reflects the country's economic focus on industrial development and modernization. The Bank of Sudan building depicted on the front symbolizes the nation's financial institution established after independence, while the textile/spinning mill imagery on the reverse highlights Sudan's important cotton and textile industries, which were central to the economy of the late 1970s.
The obverse features the Bank of Sudan headquarters building in Khartoum, rendered in classical institutional architecture with prominent columns and regular window pattern, centered on the note with rose-pink dominant coloring. The building's architectural style reflects post-independence Sudan's modernist approach to public institutions. The reverse depicts an interior industrial scene of a textile manufacturing facility (spinning mill), shown in perspective with rows of machinery/looms and a male worker figure in profile operating or inspecting the equipment on the right side. Both sides incorporate decorative geometric border patterns and denomination ornaments in all four corners (front shows two '25' circles; reverse shows four). The bilingual presentation (Arabic obverse, English reverse) reflects Sudan's official languages.
FRONT: 'بنك السودان' (Bank of Sudan); 'أنهيد بأن أدفع على الطلب لحاملها مبلغ خمسة وعشرون' (This is to certify that I will pay on demand to the bearer the sum of twenty-five [piastres]); 'خمسة وعشرون' (Twenty-five); 'الحرطوم أول نيسان 1978' (Khartoum, April 1, 1978); Serial number 'A 833772' with prefix '88'. BACK: 'BANK OF SUDAN' (English text); 'TWENTY FIVE PIASTRES' (English denomination text); Denomination '25' repeated in corner ornaments.
Intaglio engraving combined with multicolor offset lithography for the underprint, characteristic of De la Rue London's banknote production standards. The fine line work, intricate border details, and precise mechanical perspective in the textile machinery scene demonstrate high-quality engraved plate work. The multicolor design with rose-pink as the dominant color was applied through sequential lithographic passes beneath the intaglio-printed security elements.
This specimen is catalogued as Pick 11b variant. The visual analysis confirms the 1978 date variant (dated April 1, 1978 in Khartoum), which falls within the documented 1973-1980 issue date range. The serial number prefix '88' and the specific signature varieties visible are consistent with P-11b identification. PMG has catalogued two variants for this Pick number (P-11b and P-11s); this appears to be the P-11b standard issue variant based on the observed design elements and date.
