This week World Banknote Auctions has listed Live Sale 21, which closes on February 3, 2022, with live bidding that day at 1 PM Eastern / 10 AM Pacific. Live Sale 21 offers 641 lots from around the world, with select highlights including a strong selection of banknotes from the Middle East, the first part of a nice Scottish collection and a strong selection of banknotes from Southeast Asia.

This is the largest single day sale World Banknote Auctions has offered to date and follows a very successful Live Sale 20, which included strong prices for a wide variety of material. Among the highlights was an extremely rare, full issued 10 Rupiah from the undated 1957 series from Indonesia graded PMG 65 EPQ that brought $28,750 against a $4,000-$5,000 estimate. This note, which was the first public offering in many years of a fully issued note from an extremely popular series only circulated for three days, and saw spirited bidding from advanced collectors from around the world.

Live Sale 21 also features a wide and advanced selection from around the world with notes for both beginning and advanced collectors. Some highlights are selected below, the entire catalog can be viewed on the company's website, www.worldbanknoteauctions.com

Lot 21013 is a PMG Choice Uncirculated 64 graded example of the Algeria 1944 500 Francs (Pick-95). A difficult type note in higher grades, this is a fully original example without pinholes, which looks like it would have been a good candidate for a Gem grade. It is only the second offering at public auction of this type in uncirculated condition in recent years, and is a prime example of a French colonial note issued in the 1940s. Its grand size and eye-appeal surely makes it appealing to both collectors of African and European colonial banknotes. It carries a pre-auction estimate of $3,000-$4,000.

Lot 21037 is a Gem Uncirculated 65 EPQ graded example of the 1946 20 Francs from Belgian Congo (Pick-15E). Tied with just one other example as the finest of this Pick number in the PMG population report, this is one of the quintessential European colonial type notes. This is a type that very rarely appears in high grade, which is a shame, as it is well designed, colorful and aesthetically pleasing. The first time that this type is offered by World Banknote Auctions in uncirculated condition and it carries a pre-auction estimate of $2,000-$2,500.

Lot 21169 is a rarity in the European Union series. Pick-7t is the first 500 Euro with Duisenberg signature, issued for Ireland, graded Gem Uncirculated 65 EPQ by PMG. Just 150,000 pieces were issued, most of which went into circulation, and very few were saved, no doubt due to its high face value. While a small group showed up some years ago most of those were AU, and Gems remain extremely scarce. This modern key note carries a pre-auction estimate of $3,000-$4,000.

Lot 21254 is a PMG Gem Uncirculated 65 EPQ 1000 Dollars from the Hong Kong & Shanghai Banking Corporation dated 31.3.1983 (Pick-190e). Like many high denomination notes from this time period, Gem examples are surprisingly scarce, as few were set aside at the time of issue. The note is bright orange in color and quite appealing, and carries a pre-auction estimate of $600-$800.

Lot 21341 is a condition rarity from Libya, a 1952 1 Pound (Pick-16) graded Choice Uncirculated 63 EPQ by PMG. While this might not seem like a particularly high grade for a post World War II note, it certainly is for this issue, which typically comes heavily circulated. Uncirculated examples are very scarce. In fact a survey of auction records of the past decade show no sales at this grade level. A rare opportunity for the specialist, this note carries a pre-auction estimate of $3,000-$3,500.

Lot 21394 is the highlight of the sale. Dated 1 September 1927, this 5 Pound from Palestine is the first date (Pick-8a), graded Very Fine 25 by PMG. This note had limited issuance and was replaced within a few years by a new date, with most printed examples having been redeemed. An estimated 15 examples are known in all grades, and virtually all are in well-circulated grades. Missing from most advanced collections, this rarity carries a pre-auction estimate of $25,000-$30,000.

Lot 21448 is a PMG Gem Uncirculated 65 EPQ graded 50 Riyals from Saudi Arabia from the 1968 issue (Pick-14a). Very scarce in this grade, this type never showed up in quantity and survivors at this grade level are few and far between. A popular type note, it carries a pre-auction estimate of $600-$800.

Lot 21487 is a 100 Pound note from the Clydesdale & North of Scotland Bank dated 2nd of May, 1951 (Pick-194a). Graded Choice Extremely Fine 45 EPQ by PMG, this note represented huge purchasing power at the time of issue, and the total number printed was extremely small. This one shows a few folds, as typical for larger Scottish notes, but it is fully original and carries a pre-auction estimate of $1,250-$1,500.

Lot 21531 is a very scarce replacement from Singapore. Undated but issued in the early 1970s, this 10 Dollar (Pick-3d) is graded Choice Uncirculated 64 by PMG and features the Z/1 prefix, indicating it is a replacement. Replacement notes were introduced towards the end of the run of this series and quietly entered circulation at a time that most collectors had already put away an uncirculated example of a regular issue note, making them extremely scarce in higher grades. This rare replacement carries a pre-auction estimate of $400-$500.

Lot 21573 is a PMG Extremely Fine 40 EPQ graded example of the 1 Dollar from the Straits Settlements dated January 1, 1930 (Pick-9b). While not necessarily a rare note in lower grades, in Extremely Fine condition, particularly with the designation, it is extremely difficult and much in demand. This grade rarity carries a pre-auction estimate of $1,500-$2,000.

To read the complete article, see:
World Banknote Auctions Presents Live Sale 21(https://www.worldbanknoteauctions.com/news/world-banknote-auctions-presents-live-sale-21/)