500 Escudos

Banco Nacional Ultramarino occupied an unusual position in Portuguese colonial finance — it was a private bank chartered to act as the central issuing authority across Portugal's overseas territories, from Mozambique to Timor. This 500 Escudos note belongs to the Mozambique series, issued at a moment when wartime disruption to shipping and supply chains made even routine currency replenishment a logistical challenge. Bradbury, Wilkinson continued printing for colonial issuers throughout the war from their New Malden facility, though delivery schedules were anything but predictable.

The P#46 series is notably scarce in used grades, suggesting limited release rather than heavy withdrawal from circulation.