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Articles

The following articles on various aspects of world bank notes are available by accessing the links below. They are freely available for private use.
Anyone wishing to publish these articles elsewhere must seek and gain the approval of Peter Symes.

• The Bank Notes of Biafra A study of the bank notes issued in the secessionist state of Biafra between 1967 and 1970.
• The Bank Notes of Guinea-Bissau A history of the banknotes issued by the National and Central Banks of Guinea-Bissau.
• Hansard and his Typographic Note Looks at the the efforts of Thomas Hansard, in 1819, to produce the 'inimitable note', whcih he anticipated would stop forgers attempting to counterfeit the notes of the Bank of England.
• The MMM Corporation A history of the MMM Corporation in Russia and its flamboyant owner Sergei Mavrodi. The MMM Corporation issued three series of share tickets, or 'biletov', which looked like banknotes.
• The Bank Notes of the Maldives A study of the bank notes issued in the Maldive Islands
• Security Features in World Banknotes An overview of the security features to be found in world banknotes over the years (up to 1993).
• Security Threads in Banknotes Discusses the develpoment of security threads in banknotes.
• The Security of Banknote Paper Discusses the develpoment of paper used for the manufacture of banknotes.
• Serial Numbers on Banknotes Looks at how serial numbers have been used on banknotes over the years.
• The Banknotes of Cape Verde since Independence. An article desribing the emmissions of the Central Bank of Cape Verde.
• The Colonial Paper Money of Sierra Leone. A study of the paper money issued in Sierra Leone during the colonial period.
• Bank Post Bills and Post Notes Discovers the diverse history of Bank Post Bills and Post Notes; a nearly forgotten form of paper money.
• The Emigration Post Note of James Corscaden and Company A short study of an Emigration Post Note, known only to be issued by James Corscaden and Company of Londonderry.
• Khilafat Movement Receipt Describes a receipt which is often mistaken for a banknote.
• The Unissued Notes of the Armed Forces in the South of Russia Tells the tale of the notes prepared for the Armed Forces in the South of Russia, but never issued.
• Secret Marks on the Banknotes of Rostov-on-Don Identifies secret marks added to the notes prepared by the Don Cossacks in the Russian Civil War.
• Banknotes and Banking in Abyssinia and Ethiopia A story of British and American interests provides the background to the history of Abyssinian and Ethiopian banknotes.
• Queen Elizabeth II on World Banknotes Investigates the use of the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II on world banknotes, identifying the origin of many portraits, and identifying the use of each portrait.
  

• Saudia Arabia: The Early Issues An overview of the early banknotes issued in Saudi Arabia.
• Gulf Rupees A history of the special rupees, issued by the Reserve Bank of India, which circulated in the states of the Arabian (Persian) Gulf.
• The Banknotes of Kuwait A study of the various series of notes issued in Kuwait.
• The Bank Notes of Bahrain Describes the notes issued in Bahrain.
• The Bank Notes of the Qatar and Dubai Currency Board Looks at the issues of this short-lived currency board and its bank note issue, now some of the most sought after notes in the world.
• The Bank Notes of Qatar Describes the notes issued in Qatar by the Monetary Agency and the Central Bank.
• The Banknotes of the United Arab Emirates A study of the banknotes issued in the UAE.
• The Note Issues of the Sultanate of Oman Looks at the five series of notes issued in Oman.
• A Riyal Mystery Looks at the possibility that 100- and 1000-riyal Pilgrim's Receipts were prepared by Saudia Arabia in 1953.
• The East African Currency Board in Aden Looks at the, often overlooked, use of notes issued by the East African Currency Board in the Arabian Peninsula.
• The Notes of the Rif Revolt The story of one of the more obscure note issues of Morocco from an obscure incident in history.
• The Libyan Currency Commission Describes the events leading up to the first issue of the Libyan Currency Commission and provides details of the Commission's two banknote issues.
• Serial Number Sequences on Arab Bank Notes Looks at the use of letters from the Arabic alphabet in serial numbers on Arab banknotes, identifying two sequences of the Arabic alphabet.
• Habib Lotfallah and the Arabian National Bank of Hedjaz Uncovers the mystery behind the banknotes prepared for issue in the Hedjaz, one of the most enigmatic banknote issues of the Arabian Peninsula.
• Wrong Picture! Presents the story of an image from South Yemen appearing on a banknote from North Yemen.
• The Dams on the Banknotes of Yemen Looks at the mystery of a modern dam representing an ancient dam!

• The Notes of the Iraq Currency Board Describes the history and note issues of the Iraq Currency Board.
• The Bank Notes of the National Bank of Iraq Reveals the details of the notes issued by the National Bank of Iraq.
• The First Banknotes of the Central Bank of Iraq Describes the events surrounding the first banknotes issued by the Central Bank of Iraq.
• Unissued Notes of Iraq Disclosure of an unissued proof 10-dinar note; prepared before the First Gulf War
• Iraq’s 5-Dinar Note of 1992 and its Varieties An investigation of the varieties of the 5-dinar note of 1992
• Iraq’s 25-Dinar Note of 1990 Describes the varieties of Iraq's 25-dinar notes dated 1990

• The Bank Notes of Pakistan – 1947 to 1972 A history of the banknotes issued in Pakistan until just after the end of the civil war.
• The Bank Notes of Pakistan – 1972 to 2000 A history of Pakistani banknotes issued since the seccession of East Pakistan.
• The Haj Notes of Pakistan Looks at the special bank notes issued for Haj Pilgrims from Pakistan.
• Pakistan Banknotes without Pinholes Discusses the discontinuance of pinholes on the banknotes issued in Pakistan.
• The Receipts of the Muhammed Ali Jinnah Memorial Fund Reveals the story behind receipts which look uncannily like banknotes.

• The Pakistan Overprints of Bangladesh A discussion on the notes issued by the State Bank of Pakistan, with Bengali and English overprints.
• The Bank Notes of Bangladesh – The First Ten Years (Part 1) Describes the first three series of banknotes issued in Bangladesh.
• The Bank Notes of Bangladesh – The First Ten Years (Part 2) Describes the fourth and fifth series of banknotes issued in Bangladesh.
• The Sixth and Seventh Banknote Issues of Bangladesh Describes the sixth and seventh series of banknotes issued in Bangladesh.

• Part 1 – Colonial issues Provides a history and description of the banknotes issued in Somalia prior to independence.
• Part 2 – The National Bank of Somalia Describes the issues of the National Bank of Somalia, issued after independence.
• Part 3 – The Central Bank of Somalia Looks at the issues of the Central Bank of Somalia and the banknotes issued after the fall of the central government.
• Part 4 – The Somaliland issues Undertakes to describe and provide the history of the banknotes issued in the breakaway republic of Somaliland.

• Sudan's First Banknotes Looks at the note issues of the Sudan Currency Board.
• The Bank of Sudan’s Second Series Investigates the varieties found in the Bank of Sudan's second note issue.
• The Elusive Banknotes of New Sudan Uncovers an issue of banknotes prepared during the struggle of South Sudan to secede from Sudan.
• The Camel Postman Tells the story of the illustration that appeared on the back of the first banknotes issued by Sudan.

• The Banknotes of Mozambique; Independence Issues – 1975 to 1989 A history of the banknotes circulating in Mozambique after independence in 1975.
• The Banknotes of Mozambique; Later Independence Issues – 1991 to 2004 The continuing history of the banknotes circulating in Mozambique.
• The Banknotes of Mozambique; The New Metical Issues – 2006 and 2011 The later issues from Mozambique, including the first polymer banknotes.

• The Bonds of the Transcaucasian Commissariat A study of the bonds issued by the Transcaucasian Commissariat in 1918.
• The Banknotes of Azerbaijan: Part 1 – The Baku Issues Looks at the notes issued by the city of Baku in 1918.
• The Banknotes of Azerbaijan: Part 2 – The Republic Issues Relates the history of the issues by the Republican government after British occupation in 1918.
• Iranian Azerbaijan Documents the background behind the issues by the Autonomous Government of Iranian Azaerbaijan in 1945-46.

• Watermarks on Modern Scottish Banknotes Looks at the watermarks used in Scottish banknotes during the twentieth century.
• The 1967 £20 Issue of the National Commercial Bank of Scotland Reveals the existence of a banknote thought never to have been issued.
• The Ballindalloch note issues of 1830 Describes the short history of a little known private Scottish issue.
• The Exchange and Deposit Banks of John Maberly Examines the efforts of an Englishman to challenge the Scottish banking system.
• James Alexander Stewart Mackenzie - Portrait of a Private Note Issuer Looks at background of the man who issued the 'Stornaway' bank notes of Scotland.
• The Warrants of Alexander Humphrys Looks at the warrants issued by Alexander Humphrys, who claimed a vacant Scottish title.
• Security Features on Scottish Bank Notes An overview of security features used on Scottish banknotes throughout the centuries.

• Shinplasters of Outback Australia Divulges the discovery of correspondence concerning the use of merchant notes, or 'shinplaters', in outback Australia.
• Circular Notes of Australian Banks. The issue of circular notes and circular letters of credit in early Australia is investigated.
• The Notes of New Australia Reviews the promissory notes issued in the socialist colony of New Australia, established in Paraguay in the 1890s.
• Thomas Horton James and the Sydney Bank Identifies a rare set of notes prepared in the 1820s for a bank which was never established.
• The Primary Producers Bank of Australia, Limited A short history of a little-known bank established in Australia in 1923.

• Sir E. Hilton Young This article tells the story of how one man cam to sign the banknotes of Iraq with two different names.
• Hunting for Mr. Swan This story relates the hunt for the signatory on Iraq's war-time issues of the 1940s.
• Two Mexican Women The story of two women who appear on banknotes issued in Mexico. One is a beauty queen and one has a reputation!
• The Symbol of India Looks at the background of the Lion capital of the Ashoka Column, which appears on all modern Indian notes.
• The Lost Note of Bahrain Relates the story of the 'unauthorized' issue of the Bahraini 20-dinar note and the little known note that was withdrawn because of the unauthorized issue.
• Lady Lavery The woman on the early Irish banknotes is famously recognized as Lady Lavery, but why is she depicted? The answer is here.
• Malachai Malagrowther This is the story of the defence of the Scottish one-pound note by a notable Scot.
• Sheep on World Banknotes A guide for those who may want to commence collecting banknotes with sheep depicted on them.
• The Little Prince and his Lost Sheep Looks at the images depicted on the last French 50-franc banknote.
• The Isle of Man and the Triskelion Looks at the symbol that has become (almost) universally associated with the Isle of Man and which appears on all their banknotes.
• England's First QEII One-Pound Note Relates the story behind the issue of the first one-pound note by the Bank of England to carry a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II.
• Damdiny Sühbaatar Looks at the man who is today the most recognizable man from Mongolia, due to his image appearing on the banknotes of Mongolia.
• People on the Banknotes of Different Countries Searches for people who have been depicted the banknotes of more than one country.
• Husbands and Fathers Takes a look at the effect on banknotes of women who become leaders of their country.
• Currency of Three Why are there so few banknotes denominated in '3'? Why are there any at all?. This is a quick look at notes denominated in '3'.
• Private Banknote Issues This is a series of five articles that looks at the issue of paper money by a number of individuals and organizations.
  1. The Antarctica Issues and the NORFED Issues Addresses the private issues of the Antarctic Exchequer and the attempt by NORFED to replace the note issues of the Federal Reserve.
  2. The Cornish Stannary Parliament Looks at the issue of notes made by the legitimate parliament of Cornwell.
  3. The Chief Treasury of Wales and the Black Sheep Company Follows the story of one man in his attempt to establish a note issuing authority in Wales.
  4. Jason Islands and Chatham Islands Identifies two private issues that were prinicipally fund-raising exercises, but issued none-the-less under interesting circumstances.
  5. The Hutt River Province Principality and The Duchy of Avram Documents two 'independent states' in Australia that have issued their own paper money.
• The Chatham Islands Notes An updated article on the Chatham Islands notes, previously described above under 'Jason Islands and Chatham Islands'

The following articles have been published in the Bank Note Reporter

• All that Glitters ... A look at security features that glitter, such as foils strips, foil stamps, and holograms.
• Banknote Oddities Uncovers some mistakes and strange features on world banknotes.

• A Sad Tale for all Collectors Takes a look at banknote collecting as an unfortunate affliction.
• To Heaven wih Banknotes Poses the question of what a banknote collector might find in Heaven.