10 gulden 1942
Market Prices
About This Note
This is a VG-graded 10 Gulden note from Suriname dated 1 June 1942, issued by De Surinaamsche Bank and printed by the American Bank Note Company. The note displays the characteristic ornate red/pink decorative borders and central vignette of the Government Palace on the obverse, with heraldic arms featured on the reverse. The note shows authentic moderate circulation wear including creasing, fold marks, foxing, and age-related discoloration consistent with genuine 1942 circulation, making it a representative example of this wartime currency issue.
Common. The eBay price tracking data shows this note trading in the $1.35–$5.99 USD range for UNC examples and $39.99–$49.99 USD for ungraded/unknown condition examples, indicating substantial availability in the modern collector market. The 2016 catalogue values (G: $100, F: $600, EF: $1250) suggest moderate demand, but the consistent availability of multiple listings at low prices indicates this is a regularly circulated type with no significant scarcity. A VG example such as this one would be valued near the lower end of the spectrum and represents a common date/variety combination for this denomination.
This 10 Gulden note was issued during World War II, a period of significant economic and political complexity for Suriname as a Dutch colony. The Government Palace depicted on the obverse represents colonial administrative authority, while the heraldic arms on the reverse symbolize the formal authority of De Surinaamsche Bank. The American Bank Note Company's production of this note reflects Suriname's reliance on foreign printing services during a period when European printing capacity was constrained by wartime conditions.
The obverse features a formal colonial-style Government Palace (Paleis van Regering) in Paramaribo as the central vignette, depicted with multiple stories and classical architectural details. The design employs ornate red/pink decorative borders with floral and geometric patterns, elaborate corner lozenges containing the denomination numeral '10', and fine wavy line security patterns along the left and right margins. Two signature lines for bank officials appear at the bottom. The reverse mirrors the ornate border design and displays a heraldic coat of arms composition in a circular central medallion with allegorical figures representing state authority. Large denomination numerals occupy all four corners on both sides. The note's color scheme of red/pink on beige/cream creates strong visual contrast typical of early-20th-century bank note design.
FRONT SIDE: 'DE SURINAAMSCHE BANK' (The Surinamese Bank); '10' (denomination); 'DIRECTEUR' (Director); 'DIRECTEUR VOORZITTER' (Director Chairman); 'AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY' (printer identification). BACK SIDE: '239991' (serial number); '1 JUNI 1942' (issued 1 June 1942); '10' (denomination); 'AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY' (printer); 'No' (number designation); Additional fine-print treasury/legal text regarding currency regulations (partially legible in image).
Intaglio engraving (copperplate printing), the standard security printing method employed by the American Bank Note Company. The fine line work visible in the wavy security patterns, intricate border designs, ornate corner lozenges, and heraldic detailing are characteristic of high-quality intaglio production. The complex engraved patterns throughout the note, visible both in the visual analysis and typical of ABNC's work during this period, provide security through the difficulty of reproduction.
Pick catalog P-89a represents the 1942 issue variant of the 10 Gulden series. The visual analysis confirms this is the 1 June 1942 date variety (as opposed to the 1941 variant also included in the P-89a Pick number range). Serial number 239991 places this within the regular production range. No overprints, color variations, or unusual signature combinations are evident, indicating this is a standard production example of the regular issue type.
