Is? Si, for some it seems it is an ugly note, but that's just subjective personal preference and only one aspect of any given thing. Most happen to be in concert here in this thread so far, and while there's nothing wrong with that, its clear this isn't necessarily the most diverse community. We all narrowly define our collecting interests. There are only a few collectors of African notes that I see sharing their interests in these forums, and not all of them are into modern notes, so the balance is a little skewed towards a consensus agreeing that it's ugly. I'm sure there are collectors who admire the abstract beauty of African art and can see in that portrait and the smaller vignette of traditional African imagery next to it, a lineage of style that transcends their culture and sets itself apart from Western aesthetic ideals. Not all engravers manage to interpret an artists vision perfectly either so the quality of imagery may be clunky, but then again, it may be accurate too. When is the last time you saw a Serial Number with ascending font sizes? Wouldn't it be cool to get a fancy SN that also numerically ascended, i.e. AB123456, or numerically in reverse but with increasing font size? When is the last time you saw a note with a *satellite dish* in the design? I think it's interesting to consider how the security pattern on the left side looks like the unseen transmission waves emanating from the satellite dish. Where some do not see beauty others simply define it differently. For some, the complex (vs. busy) graphical design and patterning may particularly appeal to them. Perhaps there are collectors with a penchant for technological (the satellite dish) or traditional art themes who would seek such a note to complete their collection. There's something out there for everyone... Many people reject contemporary art for it's garishness and lack of aesthetic appeal. When Picasso shifted from a rigid western style of trained art and offered Les Demoiselles d'Avignon, he shocked and offended many sensibilities. This painting has become one of the icons of modern art, the avante garde changed and redefined centuries of influence in Western art by bringing in other cultural references. The painting's themes are complex but the distortion was a direct influence of African (and other cultures') art being rendered by a new idea breaking through in western established art and culture. Much of what was considered primitive from indigenous culture was no less beautiful, but coupled with the media and coarse intimate subject matter, the effect was explosive. Much of modern art thrives on that reaction from its viewers and where it takes us next with art and visual culture. It's healthy to have a reaction to something that shakes up engrained ideas about subjective things so we can see beyond our selves and see our limits, identify out preferences and how we perceive ourselves. Nothing wrong with having them, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Well stated, Krispy. One additional point on the satellite dish. Many current African notes carry themes of culture and progress, just as a century ago US notes did. Personally I find these much more interesting than a president and a building, as they give us some insight as to what's important to the country. Recurring in these themes are: Agriculture, Education, Transportation and Communications. I'm not sure why that particular list seems to dominate, but it seems like a reasonable set. Here's a note from Senegal with a satellite dish.
I 100% agree with Dave M about the cultural aspect of the African notes, they do connect well with their culture and what is important - much more than our modern USA notes with a bunch of guys that have been dead for 150 years, and monolithic structures on the reverses. A hundred years ago USA notes featured electricity, steam, modern ships, trains, automobiles and even aircraft - a sure reflection of the amazing time going on in America with so many life changing inventions. Back to Africa, one of the very unique aspects of African notes is the depiction of scenes we would find rather dull - but they represent progress and economic development and independence there: Of all the places in the world, my favourite modern banknotes all come from Africa. They are so rich in design, colour, and quite a few of them get pretty scarce when you get into higher denominations from uncommon countries.
Well said, Krispy. In simplest form, art is subjective. I for one wouldn't pay $5 for an original Picasso, however. Guy
While there are few of his pieces I'd enjoy having on display in my home, I can't dispute that the ROI for a $5 price paid for an original would be like winning a mega lotto in an art sale. I could look the other way while the piece was on the auction block.
Oh sure, I can wholly appreciate the artistic imagery on many notes, including those from Africa. I'm just saying that this note is not my cup of tea. Eye of the beholder though...
It's interesting the Bai Bureh note caused such discussion. I thank Chris for reminding me that's it's easy to be culturally influenced when viewing currency and other items from different cultures One of the reasons I buy foreign currency, including African currency, is as Dave M. writes "it carries themes of culture and progress." The Bai Bureh note will be stored among my other African notes.
Quite unpleasant looking. Personally I find this Romanian note even uglier: Looks like a bunch of colorful nonsense.
My first thought was, yes, definitely strong features (ouch!) but then, the more I looked at the OP's note, enlarged, the man's picture brought to mind Fagin, from Oliver Twist. I had to dig out my theatre souvenirs to be sure, and yes, definitely, Fagin! So, if I had that note in my possession, it would bring to me a memory of a happy time with my father, seeing Oliver! in London. And for that, I would now keep my eyes peeled for one of those notes! How nice! Lucy (..a sucker for sentiment!) (p.s. I'm not so sure about that satellite dish though!)
P20 - Bank of Sierra Leone 1000 Leones Note, 1988-1993 Issue, 04 August 1993 Obverse: Bai Bureh at right, craving at lower center, arms at upper center Reverse: Satellite dish antenna at left center Watermark: Lion's head Size: 161 x 74 mm Bai Bureh (1840 - 1908) was a Sierra Leonean ruler and military strategist who led the Temne uprising against British rule in 1898 in Northern Sierra Leone. As a ruler, Bureh never wanted to cooperate with the British who were living in the capital city of Freetown. Bai Bureh refused to recognise a peace treaty the British had negotiated with the Limba without his participation; and on one occasion, his warrior fighters raided the British troops across the border into French Guinea. On January 1, 1893, the British colonials instituted a ‘Hut Tax’ in Sierra Leone. This tax was issued throughout British controlled Africa. The tax could be paid in either money, grain, stock or labor. Many Africans had to work as laborers to pay the tax. The Hut Tax enabled the British to build roads, towns, railways and other infrastructure amenities in British controlled Sierra Leone. Bai Bureh refused to recognised the hut tax the British had imposed. He did not believe the Sierra Leonean people had a duty to pay taxes to foreigners and he wanted all British to return to Britain and let the Sierra Leoneans solve their own problems. After refusing to pay his taxes on several occasions, the British issued a warrant to arrest Bureh. When the British Governor to Sierra Leone Sir Frederic Cardew offered the princely sum of 100 pounds as a reward for his capture, Bai Bureh reciprocated by offering the even more staggering sum of five hundred pounds for the capture of the Governor. In 1896 Bureh declared war on British in Sierra Leone. The war later became known as the Hut Tax War of 1898. Most of Bureh's fighters came from several temne villages under his command, as well as fighters from Limba, Loko, Kissi and Kuranko villages who were sent to his aid. Bai Bureh's men not only killed the British soldiers, but also killed dozens of Krios who were living in Northern Sierra Leone because it was thought by the indigenous people of Sierra Leone that they supported the British. One of the most notable Krio people that was killed by Bai Bureh's warrior fighters was Krio trader John 'Johnny' Taylor who was killed in his house in Northern Sierra Leone because it was thought (by the indigeneous people of Sierra Leone) that he supported the British. Bai Bureh had the advantage over the vastly more powerful British for several months of the war. By 19 February, Bai Bureh's warrior fighhters had completely severed the British line of communication between Freetown and Port Loko. They blocked the road and the river from Freetown. Despite their arrest warrant, the British forces failed to defeat Bureh and his warrior fighters. Bai Bureh was finally tracked down in swampy, thickly vegetated countryside by a small patrolling party of the newly organised West African Regiment on November 11, 1898 in Port Loko. His Temne warriors resisted to the last, but they did not evade the troops for long. Bai Bureh was taken under guard to Freetown, where crowds gathered around his quarters day and night to gain a glimpse of the great man. The British sent Bai Bureh in exile to the Gold Coast (now Ghana), along with the powerful Sherbro chief Kpana Lewis and the powerful Mende chief Nyagua. Both Kpana Lewis and Nyagua died in exile but Bai Bureh was brought back to Sierra Leone in 1905, reinstating him as the Chief of Kasseh. Bai Bureh died in 1908. The engraving is based on the statue of Bai Bureh is dressed in the nineteenth-century Temne guerrilla leader’s own clothes and holds the cutlass with which he fought in the Hut Tax War of 1898.
Are you kidding? I love the design of the note! In celebration of the total solar eclipse of August 11, 1999, the National Bank of Romania (BNR) decided to issue a commemorative two thousand Romanian lei banknote. Since it was the last eclipse of the millennium, the denomination was chosen to be 2000 in respect to the upcoming year. On the front is a reproduction of the Solar System at right depicting the eclipse, arms at upper left, tranparent windows at upper left and lower right — view against black background to better see the transparent windows On the back is a map of Romania having the colors of the national flag (blue, yellow, and red). The map marks the main points where the solar eclipse was visible in a path moving along the map from west to east.
Clay, that info was extraordinary! Thank you so much for giving us more info regarding this man and his place in history.
So many lame ideas on notes. I am waiting for a note, perhaps celebrating "Furby." Furby was so much a part of the 1990's that his heroic image should be preserved. Here is Soviet Artilleryman Furby, who could deny a place on a note for such a striking figure ???
Look's like we'll have to agree to disagree. One man's ceiling is another man's floor, one man's trash is another man's treasure.
