Date: 1928

Currency Commission of the Irish Free State, Twenty Pounds, Type 1a (Fractional prefix). Signed by: Joseph Brennan / James J. McElligott.

Description:

A Currency Commission of the Irish Free State, Twenty Pounds, Type 1a (Fractional prefix). Signed by: Joseph Brennan / James J. McElligott.

• Designer: John Harrison, Chief Portrait Engraver of Waterlow and Sons Ltd, London
• Engraved and printed by Waterlow & Sons, on Portal’s paper, in London
• Size: 114mm x 203mm
  • Known Dates: 1
    
  • 10-SEP-1928
    • 45,000 issued

Obverse:

• Dual Language titles:
  • Currency Commission of the Irish Free State
  • Comisiún Airgid Reatha Saorstát Éireann
• Oval panel to the left, with an archetypal Irish Cailín (Girl) as the central theme
  • Allegedly based on a Lady Hazel Lavery portrait (Head and shoulders only)
    • These notes are colloquially referred to as the ‘Lady Lavery’ series
• Denonomination:
  • ‘£20’ in all four corners of an ornate frame
  • Text ‘TWENTY POUNDS’ on the left and right hand sides of the frame
• Fractional S/N: X/01 039399
• Two signatories:
  • Joseph Brennan
    • Chairman of the Currency Commission
    • Cathaoirleach Choimisiúin an Airgid Reatha
  • James J. McElligott
    • Secretary of the Department of Finance
    • Rúnaí na Roinne Airgid
• Watermark:
  • Head of Erin

Reverse:

• Ornate rectangular frame, with River Boyne mask in ornate centre panel
• Note: Centered in an ornamental design is a so-called River Mask, which can be found on the façade of the Dublin Custom House. The masks represent various rivers in Ireland, and were designed by the sculptor Edward Smythe.

Country:

• Ireland

Category:

• Modern Irish Banknotes
  • Currency Commission of the Irish Free State
    • Twenty Pounds
    • Type 1a

Further Reading:

• Blog Post: The Transition from Irish Joint-Stock Bank Issues to Central Bank of Ireland Banknotes (1922-1943)
• Blog Post: The Currency Commission of Ireland
• Link: The Currency Act, 1927

Books & Catalogues (Irish Banknotes & Paper Money)

• Irish Banknotes, Irish Paper Money 1783-2005
  • Martin MacDevitt, Meath Ireland (2005)
• Paper Money of Ireland – the definitive guide to Irish banknotes
  • Bob Blake & Jonathan Callaway (West, 2009)
• Irish Banknotes – Irish Government Paper Money From 1928
  • Martin MacDevitt (1999)
• Consolidated Banknotes of Ireland
  • Derek Young (1974)
• Legal Tender Banknotes
  • Derek Young (1972)