1901 Gouvernments Noot 1 Pound (Pietersburg)

Description:

This rare 1901 £1 banknote, issued during the closing stages of the Anglo-Boer War, is one of the most historically significant emergency currency notes from the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek (ZAR). Known as the "Pietersburg issue," these notes were printed by the Boer government in exile after Pretoria fell to British forces, with Pietersburg serving as the temporary capital.
Printed on coarse, low-quality paper, the note features simple black text on a plain background, with Gouvernements Noot prominently displayed at the top, followed by the denomination in both words and figures. The issuing authority, Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek, is clearly marked, along with the location Pietersburg and the year 1901. Notes were typically hand-signed and hand-numbered by Boer officials.
Due to wartime scarcity and the emergency nature of their production, most surviving notes are in circulated or damaged condition, making any well-preserved examples highly desirable to collectors. These notes are a tangible reminder of South Africa's turbulent wartime history and are prized for their rarity, historical context, and symbolic resistance during the British occupation.