1 Pound Sterling 1940, Kingdom of Great Britain
| in Banknotes Book | Number: SC404d |
| Years of issue: | 06.08.1940 |
| Edition: | -- |
| Signatures: | Chief Accountant: Mr. P.Irving, Cashier: Mr. James Thomson |
| Serie: | Scotland |
| Specimen of: | 02.09.1937 |
| Material: | Cotton fiber |
| Size (mm): | 150 х 83 |
| Printer: | Waterlow and Sons Limited, London |
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are increased partially by magnifying glass, the remaining open in full size by clicking on the image.
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Description
Watermark:
Avers:
Lord John Pitcairn is at the bottom.
The Commercial Bank of Scotland was founded in Edinburgh by John Pitcairn, Lord Cockburn and others.
On top is the sculptures of Corinthian portico on The Dome - the building of the main office of Commercial Bank of Scotland Ltd.
No. 14 George Street designed by David Rhind for the Commercial Bank, opened 1847. Graeco-Roman style with a Corinthian portico, arched upper windows, keystoned lower windows. The pedimental sculpture was modelled by James Wyatt of London and carved by A. Handyside Ritchie. In the center is Caledonia, flanked by Prudence, Agriculture, Commerce, Enterprise, Mechanical Science and Learning. The building is now The Dome, with restaurant and bar etc. (www.astoft2.co.uk)
Denomination in words is in the middle.
Revers:
The location of The Dome was originally the site of the old Physicians Hall (1775), built and designed by James Craig the celebrated planner of Edinburgh’s New Town. Unfortunately for the College of Physicians the original estimate of £2,725 rose to £4,800 by completion, leaving the College approximately £1,000 in debt. Unsurprisingly after a short time the College looked for a purchaser and eventually The Commercial Bank Of Scotland made an offer for the site and premise for £20,000 in 1843 – some seventy years later.
Mr David Rhind (1808-1883) was employed as the Architect by the Commercial Bank Of Scotland and in January 1844 the old Physicians’ Hall was demolished to the foundation stone during which time excavations found the silver medals and other relics which are now in the possession of the College. The old building material was removed and on the empty site the present structure gradually rose. The new foundation stone was laid on Tuesday 4th June 1844 by a Leith Merchant, James Wyld of Gilston.
David Rhinds magnificent frontage is directly based on Playfairs original scheme for the Surgeons Hall, but the portico is entered directly, not through the flanking gateways and moreover the style is not Greek but the richest Graeco-Roman, with arched and keystoned upper windows and a Corinthian portico. The Pedimental Sculpture modeled by James Wyatt of London and carved by A. Handyside Ritchie shows a central figure of Caledonia, flanked by Prudence, Agriculture, Commerce, Enterprise, Mechanical Science and Learning. The thickly wreathed cast-iron side gates are original, but the lamp-standards and the flashy bronze work of the main door are later additions.
Inside the building, the first big space is a top-lit square hall with superimposed Ionic columns – fluted above, smooth scagliola below. From its aisles twin staircases with gilded anthemion balusters ascend to the first floor offices. Beyond is the magnificent telling hall, a Greek cross with arched ceilings and coffered central dome, this certainly sets the backdrop to a spectacular space. This visionary design had already been used in Edinburgh, but Rhind greatly elaborated it with columned screens at the entry to each arm of the cross, a Fortuna Virilis frieze, rich anthemion decoration on the pendentives and an apsed end to the south arm. The columns were originally marbled wood, but in 1885 The Commercial Bank’s new architect Sydney Mitchell refaced them in grey and red veined Devonshire marble, with black Belgium granite bases and bronze capitals. Mitchell was also responsible for the black, red and gold marble mosaic floors depicting arabesques and the arms of the Bank.
In 1930 the windows at the rear of the banking hall were replaced with those we see today, the central one bearing the crest of the Commercial Bank incorporating the motto ‘Didat Servata Fides’ -Keep Faith and Prosper-while each side the windows incorporate the symbol of ‘Hermes’ the legendary god of Commerce, with the device of the winged staff and two entwined serpents. This choice of emblem is also commemorative of the old Physicians’ Hall since, according to Greek mythology, Aesculapius, the God of Healing who is perpetually represented by a staff and a serpent, was rescued as an infant by Hermes from the funeral pyre of his mother Coronis and carried off to the centaur, Cheiron, for instruction in the art of healing. This emblem is also embossed on the magnificent bronze doors which replaced the original ones at the entrance to the building during these alterations.
The amalgamation of The Commercial Bank of Scotland Limited with The National Bank of Scotland Limited in 1959 to become The National Commercial Bank of Scotland Limited and the amalgamation of the latter Bank in 1969 with The Royal Bank of Scotland caused the building to shed its designation of "Head Office" by reason of the concentration of the administration of the merged bank in St. Andrews Square.
In 1993 The Royal Bank of Scotland decided that the building was no longer viable and transferred all business to the St. Andrew Square office and 14 George Street was put up for sale. A local company called Caledonian Heritable Ltd bought the building and converted the bank to how you see it today. (www.thedomeedinburgh.com)
Denominations in numerals are on the left and right sides.
Comments:
Although, Scotland is not an independent state, and is part of the UK. Three Scottish banks have the right to issue their own banknotes. Officially, these notes are not called "Scottish pounds" and their denomination designated in pound sterling. In the strict sense of the term "Legal Tender" banknotes of Scottish banks are not even legal tender in Scotland, but can be taken throughout the United Kingdom.
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