Palestine Currency Board 10 Palestinian Pound Banknote, 1939, PMG Very Fine 25 | Historically Highest Denomination Banknote Representing the British Mandate Era | GoldSilverJapan
The 10 Palestinian pound banknote (Pick #9c), issued by the Palestine Currency Board in 1939, is highly valued by banknote collectors worldwide as the highest denomination banknote representing the British Mandate era in Palestine. This particular banknote has been graded Very Fine 25 (VF25) by PMG and is a rare surviving example, with its main design and printing still in excellent condition after more than 85 years. The 1939 series has historical significance, having been issued in the same year as the outbreak of World War II, and is an important historical document that tells the story of the Middle East situation and British governance policies at the time. The Palestinian pound was the official currency used in British Mandate Palestine from 1927 to 1948 and is now an indispensable part of the financial history of the Israeli, Palestinian, and Jordanian region. This banknote is the highest denomination 10-pound note, and due to its limited mintage and actual circulation, very few still exist. Furthermore, PMG-certified examples are highly sought after in the international market and are known as an important piece in the collection of World Banknotes, possessing historical significance, rarity, and artistic merit. GoldSilverJapan carefully selects and introduces rare banknotes from around the world, but this banknote is a particularly recommended collector's item as a representative historical banknote symbolizing the British Mandate era.
The obverse design features historical buildings and multilingual text symbolizing British Mandate Palestine. The words "PALESTINE CURRENCY BOARD" are prominently displayed at the top of the banknote, and below it are the denomination and legal information in three languages: English, Arabic, and Hebrew. This trilingual text is an important feature that reflects the local community at the time and symbolizes the history of Mandate Palestine, where multiple ethnicities and cultures coexisted. On the left side, the Tower of David, a historical building located near Jerusalem, is depicted using precise intaglio printing as a representative cultural heritage of the Middle East. In the center, the denomination "TEN PALESTINE POUNDS" and the issue date "Jerusalem, 7 September 1939" are printed, and the signature of the official issuing authority at the time can be seen. The entire banknote is unified in a calm blue color scheme, and intricate guilloché patterns and geometric designs cover the entire surface. A large blank circular area was provided on the right side, functioning as part of advanced anti-counterfeiting technology. Furthermore, this banknote features an olive branch watermark, showcasing the high printing skills of the British banknote printing company, Thomas De La Rue.
The reverse side beautifully depicts the Tower of David and the city walls, iconic historical landmarks of Jerusalem's Old City. These structures symbolize Jerusalem, which has been at the heart of Middle Eastern history for thousands of years, and are still widely known today as part of a World Heritage Site. The magnificent fortress is depicted in the central circular frame, surrounded by an extremely intricate guilloché pattern. The denomination is indicated in Hebrew and Arabic on the left and right, and "TEN PALESTINE POUNDS" is written in English at the bottom center. The entire banknote is adorned with intricate curved patterns and decorations, fully showcasing the British banknote printing technology that was considered the best in the world from the 19th to the first half of the 20th century. In an era before holograms and special inks existed, such complex intaglio printing was the highest level of anti-counterfeiting technology. Thomas de la Rue, the printing company, is a prestigious company that has produced banknotes for many countries around the world, and this series is considered one of their representative works. The overall design conveys the authority of the administration under British rule and a historical respect for the holy city of Jerusalem.
The Palestinian Currency Board was established in 1927 and served as the governing body for the monetary system in the British Mandate territories of Palestine and Transjordan. The Palestinian pound issued was designed as a stable currency pegged to the British pound and played a vital role in supporting the development of the regional economy. The 10-pound note issued in 1939 was the highest denomination in the series and was used more often for interbank settlements and large-scale commercial transactions than for everyday transactions by ordinary citizens, resulting in a relatively small number of notes issued. Subsequently, with the end of the British Mandate and the establishment of Israel in 1948, the Palestinian pound completed its historical role and transitioned to a new monetary system. As a result, existing banknotes are dispersed among museums and private collections around the world, and the number circulating in the market is extremely limited. The 10-pound note, in particular, is highly sought after and always attracts attention in the auction market. This banknote is not merely an antique; it also holds great value as a valuable historical document that tells the story of modern Middle Eastern history, British colonial history, financial history, and the history of world banknotes.
The banknote we are presenting here has received a PMG Very Fine 25 rating. Very Fine means that while it shows natural signs of use as a banknote that was actually in circulation, the main design, printing, lettering, and architectural details are still clearly visible. The PMG label also includes the comment "Minor Repairs & Rust," indicating that there have been minor repairs and signs of rust. Even with this comment, considering its issuance date of 1939 and its extremely high rarity, this banknote still possesses very high historical and collectible value. PMG is known as the world's leading banknote authentication organization, evaluating authenticity and condition according to objective international standards. Therefore, authenticated banknotes are traded with confidence on the global market and are used in many museum-quality collections. As the highest denomination banknote representing the British Mandate era, this banknote is an excellent collectible item that combines historical value, artistic merit, and rarity. Please note that the serial number of each banknote is unique. The image shown is for reference only, and the serial number of the banknote you receive may differ.
FAQ
Q. Which country's currency is this banknote?
A. This is a banknote issued by the Palestine Currency Board in British Mandate Palestine.
Q. What year was it published?
A. It was 1939.
Q. What is the face value?
A. Ten Palestinian Pounds.
Q. What is the Pick number?
A. Pick #9c.
Q. Which organization issues it?
A. This is the Palestine Currency Board.
Q. What is the PMG grade?
A. Very Fine 25 (VF25).
Q. What does "Minor Repairs & Rust" on the PMG label mean?
A. This is a PMG note indicating that minor repair and rust marks were observed.
Q. What is depicted on the surface?
A. It depicts the Tower of David, has text in three languages, the face value, and the issue date.
Q. What is depicted on the back?
A. This depicts the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem and the Tower of David.
Q. What are the three languages?
A. English, Arabic, and Hebrew.
Q. Is there a watermark?
A. Yes. It features an olive branch (olive sprig) design.
Q. Which printing company do you use?
A. Thomas De La Rue & Company Limited, a UK company.
Q. Is this banknote rare?
A. Yes. It is the highest denomination banknote, and only a small number were issued, so very few still exist.
Q. Is it a popular investment target?
A. Yes. Authenticated high-denomination banknotes from the British Mandate era are in high demand on the international market.
Q. Is the serial number the same as the one in the image?
A. They are not necessarily the same. They may vary from individual to individual.
Q. What is the greatest appeal of this banknote?
A. Its appeal lies in its history during the British Mandate era, its rarity as a high-value item, its beautiful British printing techniques, and its highly artistic design depicting Jerusalem.
Q. What types of banknotes does GoldSilverJapan handle?
A. We carefully select and showcase rare banknotes, antique banknotes, and historical banknotes from around the world, primarily those certified by PMG and PCGS.
Q. What are your search keywords?
A. Palestine Currency Board 10 Pounds 1939, Pick 9th century, Palestine Banknote, British Mandate Palestine, Thomas De La Rue, PMG VF25, Jerusalem Banknote, Tower of David banknote, Palestinian banknote, British Mandate banknote, Middle Eastern antique banknote, PMG certified banknote, GoldSilverJapan, etc.
