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De La Rue Giori - 1 Varinota prototype/demonstration note
| Issuer | De La Rue Giori S.A. |
|---|---|
| Year | |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | 1 Varinota |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Engraver(s) | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Intaglio portrait of Ludwig van Beethoven to the right, rendered in fine engraved line work against a multicolour guilloche underprint in purple, blue, and ochre tones. To the left, a vignette of a French horn and a manuscript score alludes to Beethoven's compositional work, flanked by a green geometric corner device at lower left. The overprinted word SPECIMEN appears in black across the centre, with blank spaces for designer and engraver credits below the denomination numeral '1'. |
|---|---|
| Obverse lettering | De La Rue Giori S. A. SPECIMEN 1 DESIGNED BY ENGRAVED BY VARINOTA |
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| Comments |
De La Rue Giori produced Varinota specimens as internal demonstration pieces — shown to central banks and finance ministries to illustrate the capabilities of their Orlof intaglio printing process. The "Varinota" name was a marketing device, not a currency designation; these notes were never tendered for adoption by any issuing authority and carry no legal tender status anywhere.
The Lausanne press used these to sell presses, not paper. Surviving examples turn up almost exclusively through trade contacts and former employees of security printing firms.