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10 Pounds Commercial Bank of New Zealand Limited
| Issuer | Commercial Bank of New Zealand Limited |
|---|---|
| Year | 1866 |
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| Currency | Pound (1840-1967) |
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| Obverse description | The upper portion carries the bank title in copperplate script, 'The Commercial Bank of New Zealand Limited', flanked by two oval guilloche vignettes bearing the denomination 'TEN' at left and right. At centre top, the British Royal Arms with supporters is rendered in fine intaglio engraving. A large guilloche panel in the centre bears the promise to pay text in script lettering over a lathe-work underprint, with a rectangular denomination cartouche reading 'TEN POUNDS' at lower left. The outer border is composed of an elaborate engine-turned frame, with the legend 'INCORPORATED' at top and 'BY ACT OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY' at foot in letterpress. |
|---|---|
| Obverse lettering | INCORPORATED THE COMMERCIAL BANK OF NEW ZEALAND LIMITED TEN TEN PROMISE TO PAY THE BEARER ON DEMAND TEN POUNDS ST. VALUE REC. HERE OR AT DUNEDIN TEN POUNDS FOR THE DIRECTORS & PROPRIETORS OF THE COMMERCIAL BANK OF NEW ZEALAND LIMITED BY ACT OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY |
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| Comments |
The Commercial Bank of New Zealand Limited was established in London in 1866 — the same year this note was issued — making early dated examples effectively inaugural issue material. The bank was a British-registered enterprise operating colonial branches, which explains why Perkins, Bacon & Petch handled production in London rather than any colonial printer.
Perkins, Bacon had by this point perfected the siderographic transfer process that made their banknote work extremely difficult to counterfeit, a serious concern in thinly policed colonial markets where detection was slow and legal recourse slower.
The bank failed in 1893 during a severe colonial financial contraction, leaving unredeemed notes across both islands.