Catalog
1 Pound
| Issuer | Central Bank of Nigeria |
|---|---|
| Year | 1965 |
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| Value | 1 Pound |
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| Obverse description | Printed in red and dark brown on a fine guilloche underprint, the obverse carries a central intaglio vignette of the Central Bank of Nigeria headquarters building at left, rendered in precise architectural detail. The upper border bears the title FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA in a red band, with the bank name and promise-to-pay legend below; denomination numerals and pound signs appear at all four corners, and a Nigerian coat of arms vignette is positioned at upper right alongside a circular watermark window. Three facsimile signatures of bank officials appear at lower centre. |
|---|---|
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| Reverse lettering | CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA ONE POUND |
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| Comments |
Nigeria's first post-independence pound series, of which this is part, was issued as the country navigated the difficult early years of civilian and then military rule following the 1966 coups. The Central Bank had only been established in 1959, and these De La Rue issues represented a conscious effort to move away from the West African Currency Board notes that had served the colonial period.
Print run of just over twelve million is modest for a pound-denominated note in active circulation, and attrition was high — Nigerian currency of this period suffered badly in humid conditions, which accounts for the relative scarcity of presentable survivors. The series was withdrawn following the introduction of the decimal naira and kobo system on 1 January 1973.