Belfast Banking Company 1922–1968 (merged with Northern Bank)

[The Governor]

Belfast Banking Company produced one series for its Northern Ireland issue.
The notes remained in use until 1968 unaltered except for signature variations.

None of the denominations are rare.

[DOC]

Here is an interesting Belfast Banking Company Limited specimen £5 note from 1936. This appears to be the first example of a Northern Ireland Series specimen note with coloured panel, serial numbers and signature reported for this bank to date.

[Mac]

This one is interesting - I saw it coming up and then lost track of it! Do you have a pic of the reverse?

[DOC]

Here is an image of the reverse. The specimen is unusual in appearing to be well circulated.

[callahiljo]

There are one or two cases of specimen notes being taken from notes in circulation, not just the Belfast Bank. The reasons are obscure but presumably there was a need to provide one and the bank had no "official" ones to hand. It could have been for use in a court case, it could have been a one-off request from another bank worried that they had taken in a forgery. Similarly, there are several notes in the Ulster Museum which the banks had taken from circulation, stamped CANCELLED and presented to the museum - examples include notes from the Belfast, Northern and Provincial banks.

All curious and interesting items which are/will be recorded in Paper Money of Ireland where we know about them (this piece included!).

[Mac]

A pity the punch hole has taken out the prefix. The number on the note appears to be 0000 or or three zeros preceded by a numeral.