Intricate Engraving on Old Foreign Bank Notes

I have a couple of notes that I picked up last year because they were large-sized notes and I just wanted a couple of examples. Now, a year later with a greater appreciation for the art of engraving, I am amazed at the skill that went into producing the artwork on these two bank notes. I left the pics quite large just so you can enlarge them to see the details. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

One is a 1902 Austro-Hungarian 1,000 Kronen (Korun) note - It is dated 1902, but was actually issued in 1919. Notice the overprint (DEUTSCHOSTERREICH) in red at the top center of the note.

The other note is a 1930 Hungarian 100 SzazPengo bank note.

 

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Very cool, I especially like the back of the 100 pengo.... can't beat a good castle! Good to see some foreign notes with great engraving.

 

The remind me of tapestries.

 

My contribution to the Intricate Engraving track. How about this 1909 Russian 5 Ruble note. Pretty sure it's genuine, though not very rare. It was given to me as part of a set of 1,3(!),5,10, 25 rubles, all from 1898 - 1909. Several members of my wife's family spent some time in Siberia as a guest of Joe Stalin after WWII. Not a unique story, but it gives the notes some provenance.

 

I have a few Russian notes as well from the turn of the 20th century. I find the style of those notes almost funereal. Very somber. Whereas the European notes have taken on the Art Nouveau and Art Deco designs which were popular at the time. Regardless, the engravings on the Russian notes are just as intricate.

 

yep, I have some 1940's Russians as well. They are almost black and white... very depressing.

 

I find that the majority of notes produced prior to WWII are quite stunning when one looks closely at the have a look at some of the South/Latin american notes and China as well as those produced in the USA itself. Yhere realy are some stunning works out there

 

That red Hungarian note is really amazing. The blood red color and the detail of the portrait, the castle - wow. Feels like you could zoom in all day and keep seeing more details in it.

Dave

 

Guys these are some great notes! That's a great looking Russian ruble Bob. While hard to adjust to, the vertical format is very interesting.

I have a special interest in Hungarian as well as Austria-Hungary bank notes too. They are very accessible to collectors budgets too.

The 100 Snaz note is one of my favorites and it's a HUGE note, 90mm x 175mm.

There are also large notes in the: 500 Snaz at 85mm x 175mm, the 1000 Pengo (1943) at 100mm x 183mm, and the 100 Korona (1920) at 100mm x 155mm amongst others.

Check out this thread I posted earlier in 2010 with examples of my notes:

Austria-Hungary, Hungarian & Hungarian Inflationary Paper Money: 1915 - 1989

 

The colors, engravings, history, and variety of sizes sure add to the appeal of world notes. Many of them are simply stunning. Thanks for sharing!

 

That is Buda Castle overlooking the Danube River.

 

Agree that the vertical orientation takes some getting used to. Throughout the Russian note series (1890's, 1900's, then again in the late 1940's) they seem to go back and forth - quite odd really. The vertical orientation seems to be catching on. Venezuela, Switzerland, and Isreal use this orientatoin in their modern series - I'm sure there are others.

Canada is moving to polymer in 2011 - I think that would be a very interesting design feature to consider at the same time.

 

Some modern Swiss notes have incredibly bold designs and are really dynamic in color palette as well. I am also very interested in polymer notes. Can't wait to see the Candian notes. I haven't any Australian in hand but have a few Mexican polymer notes. I think they will be a great thing to snatch up for collectors as they will be overlooked for many years then as series change quickly build a base of modern note collectors. Polymers are a huge leap in note design change and offer many new dimensions to collecting paper. I'm very excited about it. :smile


Making polymer notes (Discovery Channel - Spanish)

Brand New Mexican Commemorative Banknotes for 2010 (CT thread)

 

Thanks for the thread. Great info too! I share your enthusiasm for European notes from this era, and although I have not collected hyperinflation notes from Europe, there are many to chose from, incl Hungary, Germany, and recently, Yugoslavia and many of the parts that broke away from the old USSR.

 

Glad you linked your excellent presentation thread to this thread, Krispy! Stunning designs on those notes!

 

Thanks! Glad you posted your notes too. I need to get one of those Austro-Hungarian 1,000 Kronen notes! One more thing to add to the list.

 

Adding to the Russian notes mentioned by others, the 25 Rouble (1909) and 50 Rouble (1899) notes are gorgeous...

 

Very nice! I like the way the portraits are presented.

 

mine too