Catalog
500 Dobras
| Issuer | Banco Nacional de S. Tomé e Príncipe |
|---|---|
| Year | 1982 |
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| Printer | Bradbury Wilkinson and Company, United Kingdom (1856-1990) |
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| Obverse description | Violet, red, orange and tan intaglio print over a multicolour guilloche underprint. A turtle vignette occupies the centre of the underprint, with a portrait of Rei Amador at right and the national Coat of Arms at lower left. |
|---|---|
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| Protection type | Watermark |
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| Comments |
Bradbury Wilkinson's contract work for former Portuguese territories was a recurring feature of post-independence currency programs across Lusophone Africa, and São Tomé e Príncipe was no exception. The archipelago had only gained independence in 1975, and the Banco Nacional — functioning as both central bank and sole commercial bank under the single-party MLSTP government — was still in the early years of building out a domestic currency infrastructure when this note was produced.
The 500 Dobras denomination sat at the upper end of the 1982 series. Bradbury Wilkinson closed in 1990 when it was absorbed into De La Rue, ending 134 years as an independent security printer.