Some of the earlier Scottish banknotes are very attractively designed.
This Caledonian Banking Company One Pound note from 1876 also has a motto in Gaelic around the edge:
"Tir ‘nam Beann ‘nan Gleann ’s ‘nan Gaisgeach" which translates as 'The land of Women, Glens, and Heroes' — I had to look up Gaisgeach, got the rest though.
The attached 100 livres note was issued in Lebanon by ‘Bank de Syrie et Grand Liban’ in 1945. These intricately engraved notes acquired the nickname ‘carpet notes’ due to their distinctive design.
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Banque du Syrie et Grand Liban 100 Livres 1945.jpg (99.34 KiB) Viewed 5011 times
I once gave a talk to a local numismatic society on my 10 favourite banknotes. There were 53 slides! I ended up showing the back of every Ploughman and all the Lady Lavery designs - with all 7 of the River Gods on the back.
Here are a couple of Scottish and English additions to this thread, both designs by William Lizars, the Edinburgh engraver and printer. First comes a proof of his design for Backhouse's Sunderland Bank then a higher denomination Caledonian Bank note, also a proof.
I could add many more Scottish notes but will select just one more - a sumptuous Waterlow design for the National Bank of Scotland.
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Nat-£100-1952_NEW.jpg (134.6 KiB) Viewed 4565 times
Cal-£20-1838ish-Lizars-proof.jpg (101.34 KiB) Viewed 4565 times
Sunderland-£5-Lizars-proof.jpg (83.43 KiB) Viewed 4565 times
This is one of my favorite icon banknotes collected over the years … such a great story around how the artist secretly weaved the message in the tree design !!
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4B749C8A-D15C-401F-93C5-29D12EE981CD.jpg (93.63 KiB) Viewed 4195 times
Here is a beautifully designed 10 Shillings note of The East African Currency Board featuring Victoria Falls and portrait of Queen Elizabeth II. This unique trial design from 1954 was never adopted.
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East African Currency Board 10 Shillings Essay 1st January 1954.jpg (32.07 KiB) Viewed 3715 times