Specimen Banknotes

In the case of Irish Legal Tender Notes (LTN), Specimen banknotes of each denomination were produced when a major alteration of the design occurred. This was generally, though not always a change in signature.

Specimen notes were produced when changes were made in the title of the issuing authority from Currency Commission Irish Free State to Currency Commission Ireland, and again when changed to Central Bank of Ireland. The signatures remained unchanged during these alterations.

It appears that Specimens of Currency Commission Ireland banknotes were not produced in 1940 on the occasion of the incorporation into the design of the wartime special markings, colloquially referred to as 'war codes', as none have been seen. There was no change of signature at this point.

On the occasion of the introduction of metallic security threads in lower denominations, specimens were produced.

In the mid-1970s Specimen banknotes were also produced by each of the printers when De La Rue and the Central Bank of Ireland were both producing the same denominations of the same signature variety, with differing serial number styles.

The specimens illustrated on the linked pages in this section are not a complete set of what was produced. In some cases not all denominations have been seen in specimen form of a particular signature variety.

Other specimen notes which have not yet been seen may also have been produced for non-signature change alterations.

A Series banknotes 1928-1977

Currency Commission Legal Tender Notes Types 1 to 4. 1928–1942

Currency Commission Irish Free State Type 1, 1928
Denominations: 10 Shillings, £1, £5, £10, £20, £50, £100
Official Specimen banknotes 1928: Joseph Brennan. J. J. McElligott.

Currency Commission Ireland Type 3, 1938–1940
Denominations: 10 Shillings, £1, £5, £10
Official Specimen banknotes 1938: Joseph Brennan. J. J. McElligott.


The Currency Commission was wound up and replaced by the Central Bank of Ireland on 1 February 1943. The title of the Issuing Authority on banknotes was altered to reflect this.


Central Bank of Ireland Legal Tender Notes Types 5 to 14. 1943–1977

Central Bank of Ireland Type 5, 1943–1944
Special Identification Marking (SIM) — War code
Denominations: 10 Shillings, £1, £5, £10, £20
Official Specimen banknotes 1943: Joseph Brennan. J. J. McElligott.

Central Bank of Ireland Type 6, 1945–1952
Denominations: 10 Shillings, £1, £5, £10, £20, £50, £100
Official Specimen banknotes 1945: Joseph Brennan. J. J. McElligott.

Central Bank of Ireland Type 8, 1954–1955
Denominations: 10 Shillings, £1, £5, £10, £20, £50, £100
Official Specimen banknotes: J. J. McElligott. O. J. Redmond.

Central Bank of Ireland Type 9, 1956–1960
Denominations: 10 Shillings, £1, £5, £10, £20, £50, £100
Official Specimen banknotes: J. J. McElligott. T. K. Whitaker.
De La Rue Specimen notes: J. J. McElligott. T. K. Whitaker.

Central Bank of Ireland Type 11, 1961–1968
Denominations: 10 Shillings, £1, £5, £10, £20, £50, £100
Official Specimen banknotes: M. Ó Muimhneacháin. T. K. Whitaker.
De La Rue Specimen notes: M. Ó Muimhneacháin. T. K. Whitaker.

Central Bank of Ireland Type 12, 1969–1975
Denominations: £1, £5, £10, £20, £50, £100
Official Specimen banknotes: T. K. Whitaker. C. H. Murray.

Central Bank of Ireland Type 13, 1971–1975
Denominations: £1, £5, £10, £20, £50, £100
Official Specimen banknotes: T. K. Whitaker. C. H. Murray.

Central Bank of Ireland Type 14, 1976–1977
Denominations: £1, £10, £20, £50, £100
Official Specimen banknotes: C. H. Murray. M. O'Murchú.

Main Page < A Series Banknotes - Introduction < LTN Specimen Notes
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