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50 Pounds Australian and European Bank
| Issuer | Australian and European Bank Limited |
|---|---|
| Year | 1874-1879 |
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| Shape | Rectangular |
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| Obverse description | The obverse is dominated by an intricate guilloche border with the denomination FIFTY repeated in the four corners and along the margins. At centre, the bank title THE AUSTRALIAN AND EUROPEAN BANK LIMITED arches above the royal coat of arms flanked by two serial numbers. Oval intaglio vignettes at left and right each contain an allegorical female figure rendered in fine engraving, with a large letterpress FIFTY POUNDS underprint in blue across the central text panel. |
|---|---|
| Obverse lettering | FIFTY The Australian and European Bank Limited FIFTY Promise to pay the Bearer on Demand the Sum of FIFTY Pounds Melbourne 1st June 18__ For the Australian and European Bank Limited FIFTY Manager________ Ent:_______Acct_________ FIFTY 50 FIFTY |
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| Comments |
The Australian and European Bank Limited was a short-lived colonial venture, incorporated in London and operating branches in New South Wales and Victoria. It collapsed in 1879 — a casualty of the same overextended colonial banking environment that would claim several larger institutions over the following decade. Notes issued right up to the final years of operation were never redeemed, which means surviving examples carry the additional burden of representing a failed institution rather than simply retired currency.
Bradbury Wilkinson's intaglio work on colonial private bank issues of this period is consistently fine, but that quality did little to reassure depositors when the balance sheet unraveled.