🇨🇾 2004 Cyprus 1 Pound – Folk Heritage & Aphrodite | P‑60d
The 2004 Cyprus £1 banknote (P‑60d) is the final and most modern printing of the iconic orange‑toned Cypriot pound series. Issued just before Cyprus adopted the euro in 2008, it represents the closing chapter of the island’s national currency and highlights Cypriot folk culture, rural life, and classical mythology.
Historical Context
The 2004 issue belongs to the last generation of Cyprus pound banknotes. By this time, Cyprus was preparing for full integration into the European Union’s monetary framework, and the pound was approaching its final years of circulation.
Key historical notes:
EU Accession (2004): Cyprus joined the European Union in May 2004, the same year this note was printed.
Pre‑Euro Transition: The Cyprus pound remained in use until 31 December 2007, when it was replaced by the euro.
Bicultural Identity: The note includes Greek and Turkish text, reflecting the island’s bilingual administrative tradition.
Cultural Preservation: The design emphasises traditional dress, rural crafts, and Aphrodite — symbols of Cyprus’s deep cultural heritage.
This makes the 2004 P‑60d a historically meaningful final‑issue note for collectors.
Key Features & Specifications
Issuer: Cyprus
Issuing Bank: Central Bank of Cyprus
Period: Republic (1960–present)
Type: Standard circulation banknote
Years Printed: 2004 (final print run)
Value: 1 Pound (1 CYP)
Currency: Cyprus Pound (decimalised 1983–2007)
Composition: Paper
Size: 140 × 68 mm
Shape: Rectangular
Demonetized: Yes (after euro adoption)
Reference: P‑60d
Obverse (Front)
Printed in warm orange tones, the design features:
Woman in traditional Cypriot folk dress at left
Black serial numbers (horizontal and vertical)
Foil rectangle (approx. 16 × 8 mm) showing:
The note’s value (£1)
Outline map of Cyprus
Bilingual inscriptions in Greek and Turkish:
ΚΕΝΤΡΙΚΗ ΤΡΑΠΕΖΑ ΤΗΣ ΚΥΠΡΟΥ
KIBRIS MERKEZ BANKASI
MIA ΛΙΡΑ / BİR LİRA
Translation: Central Bank of Cyprus – One Pound / One Lira
Reverse (Back)
Handcraft motifs representing Cypriot artisan traditions
Village scene of Kato Drys, a historic rural settlement known for lacework and agriculture
English inscription:
CENTRAL BANK OF CYPRUS – ONE POUND
Watermark
Bust of Aphrodite, the ancient Greek goddess associated with Cyprus
Inset watermark panel at right
Collector’s Appeal
Final printing of the last Cyprus £1 note before the euro
Attractive orange colour scheme and strong cultural themes
Bilingual Greek–Turkish inscriptions
Features Aphrodite, a symbol deeply tied to Cypriot identity
Affordable and popular among collectors of pre‑euro European currency
