How Far Back Can We Go? - With Banknotes! Third Edition

Fantastic group of banknotes, walk2dwater! That Gibraltar note is actually part of my recent purchase that I've yet to go through. I made a little progress today but didn't make it that far. I also love the Estonia note! The wave reverse is a nice combination of a dynamic yet simple design that appeals to me.

I wish I could party like it's 1999, but I only have one example for the year. It's an Ecuador 5000 Sucres P-128c. The obverse depicts Juan Montalvo, a famous writer, while the reverse shows a cormorant, penguin, and Galapagos tortoise. Ecuador abandoned the sucre in favor of the US dollar in 2000, which is a shame because the country lost an important avenue of expressing its identity, history, and culture.

Thanks! You're going to like the £5 (much nicer to view in person, then a scan). Good luck on your backlog! . Very sweet 5000 Sucres from Ecuador (love the tortoise on the back, so I had to get one myself).


-Thanks @Scopru!
1998
My 3 entries from 1998 are from El Salvador, which like Ecuador, employ the USD now & no longer issue their own Colones currency (sadly).
P-147 5 Colones:


P-148 10 Colones


P-149 25 Colones


Today, I noticed that I actually have these incorrectly identified too! According to Numista, I have the reverse (with image of Christopher Columbus/ships) identified as the obverse & vice versa for the various Salvadorian historic sites. But, according to Numista, the landmarks are the fronts & Columbus is on the back. Pretty weird! Well, anyway, I think that will be all for modern notes from El Salvador (I may try to get a few older series, though they get pretty tough the farther one goes back).

Next up is a ND (1998) Papua New Guinea 2 Kina P-16b. The obverse shows a bird of paradise, while the reverse displays "artifacts," as Numista vaguely states.

You are correct Spence with the print date being done in 1998.
It is the 1996 issue that was on its 3rd print run May 2, 1998

great note.

I can launch 1997 with a 20-franc note from France...


... and a 1-Lempira note from Honduras:

Thank you CB! I really like the design of your 2 Kuna from PNG. Some of their issues are tough or even rare (like P-2, the 1975 FIVE Kuna).


-That P-74c note from Ghana has an interesting design @Spence. I've been picking up notes from various African nation & have been surprised how tough some are.


Great adds @NumisRob & welcome aboard!

1997
For this year, I picked up a solid #2 radar from India. The interesting thing about these notes (& a question one often sees) is that they have an "insert letter" embedded in their design. Mine is the letter T (which makes it P-89n). I originally had it registered as P-89g for the L series but then saw the Letter T under the first 2 of the serial number. The seller had it listed as P-89c (also incorrect! incredible confusion). That's why I try to be patient whenever I see a collector requesting assistance to ID his or her note!

I did not upload & image of the reverse, so please check out my 2013 entry as the design is pretty much the same.
https://goccf.com/t/485372&whichpage=5#4398381

The second note I would like to share is P-76b a £10 from the Republic of Ireland, featuring James Joyce on the front and one a "River mask" (representing Liffey) at left. The text is from "Finnegans Wake" at right which superimposes a 19th century map of Dublin in the background on the back. It's quite an interesting work of art:

Wonderful banknotes, everyone! I like the port scene on the reverse of your Ghana note, Spence. Welcome to the thread, NumisRob! The castle vignette on your Scotland note is iconic. And great radar note, walk2dwater!


That's a beautiful design!

For 1997, I have a Democratic Republic of the Congo 1 Centime P-80a, which at today's conversion rate is equivalent to 0.0000044 USD. Ouch. Nevertheless, it's a pleasing little banknote. The obverse portrays a woman harvesting coffee beans, while the reverse has a dynamic scene of Nyiragongo volcano erupting.