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20 Pounds National Bank of New Zealand Limited
| Issuer | National Bank of New Zealand Limited |
|---|---|
| Year | 1873-1877 |
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| Reference(s) | P#S294 |
| Obverse description | Uniface note printed in blue-green on white paper. The Royal Arms vignette occupies the upper centre, engraved in intaglio with the lion and unicorn supporters, crown above, and motto ribbon below, flanked left and right by circular bank seals bearing the monogram of The National Bank of New Zealand Limited. Denomination counters reading £20 appear at upper left and right within guilloche rosettes, with the promise-to-pay legend in a central panel and a bold letterpress 'TWENTY' cartouche at lower left, with manuscript manager's signature and date at lower right. |
|---|---|
| Obverse lettering | ₤20 ₤20 THE NATIONAL BANK OF NEW ZEALAND LIMITED. WE PROMISE TO PAY THE BEARER ON DEMAND TWENTY POUNDS STERLING FOR THE NATIONAL BANK OF NEW ZEALAND LIMITED TWENTY |
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| Comments |
The National Bank of New Zealand Limited was incorporated in London in 1872 with British capital, opening its New Zealand branches the following year — which is why Perkins, Bacon & Petch handled production rather than any colonial printer. The bank remained a British-registered company for most of its early existence, and its note issue reflected that entirely: designed, printed, and quality-controlled in London before being shipped out for use in the colony.
Perkins, Bacon's steel-engraving process was chosen precisely for its resistance to counterfeiting, a serious concern in thinly policed colonial markets. Surviving examples from this 1873–1877 window are rare — the £20 denomination would have turned over slowly in everyday commerce and been retired quickly by the bank when returned.