Watch List notes:

Italy (5) a collectible group consisting of some very collectible notes as the 1000 Lire "Ornata di Perle" (Decorated with Pearls) Pick 88b dated 11th February 1949 signatures Menichella & Urbini series H251 number 003927 printer I.P.S. Officina Carte-Valori, Rome and seal type Medusa/Bank's Monogram , VF - GVF. A faint purple on light brown underprint featuring a fabulous portrait of one of the "Three Graces" of the painting "Primavera", by the Italian Renaissance painter Sandro Botticelli made in the late 1470s or early 1480s. The reverse in blue and grey with guilloche panels. Also the 500 Lire "Mietitrice" Pick 51d dated 19th December 1940 signatures Azzolini & Urbini block Q219 number 7832 seal type Italia/Fascio, VF or near with small tape repairs at marginal tears at left and right. The common name amongst Italian collectors - "Meatrice" (Harvester/Reaper), perhaps given due to the bold slightly au naturel image of a female farm harvester on obverse, holding a sickle in one hand and in the other holding a sheet of wheat, and also seated on sheets of wheat. The reverse with Panthenonic -like statue with 3 allegorical figure representing "Economy", "Law" and "Finance". Printed in Rome by Officina della Banca d'Italia and a rather larger sized note popular amongst collectors. Together with a trio of 100000 Lires in mixed grades VG - about VF including Pick 108a dated 20th June 1978 signatures Baffi & Stevani (2) serial numbers RA 416853 G and TA 245653 D. Along with Pick 108b dated 1st July 1980 signatures Ciampi & Stevani serial number JA 376858 J.

Estimate: 55-90 GBP