Slovakia 500 Korun 1939 (1929) Specimen Stamp VF

Originally issued on May 2, 1929, by the National Bank of Czechoslovakia and designed by iconic Art Nouveau artist Alfons Mucha, this 500 Korun note was later reused during the wartime Slovak State in 1939 with an official Specimen stamp, marking it as a non-circulating reference or test issue.

Printed by the American Bank Note Company in New York, the note features striking orange and red tones with intricate guilloche borders. On the front, a Czech Legionnaire stands proudly beside the national coat of arms. The back showcases an allegorical woman in a Phrygian cap (a symbol of liberty), with a reclining lion, a child at the seashore, and multilingual texts representing the region’s ethnic diversity.

This transitional issue offers both historical depth and artistic prestige, particularly valuable due to its Specimen status and scarce Slovak overprint.