Extraordinary Banknotes in Heritage’s April European Currency Auction

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An extraordinary selection of notes from nations that at times have been under Dutch control will be up for grabs in Heritage Auctions’ Paper Money Fair – Netherlands World Banknote Signature® Auction April 21-22.

Extraordinary Banknotes for Auction by Heritage
Examples of banknotes featured in Heritage Auctions European Paper Money Event

Included in the sale are two exceptional collections of notes, one of which is perhaps the most significant assemblage of currency from the island nation of Curaçao, the other including prized notes from African nations, including Angola and Ethiopia.

"The collections in this auction represent extraordinary opportunities for collectors of paper money from around the world, specifically those with Dutch history," said Dustin Johnston, Vice President of Currency at Heritage Auctions. "There are some exceedingly rare notes that will be offered in this sale, including some with low serial numbers, which always are in high demand among the most serious collectors."

Mathis Verkooijen Collection

The Mathis Verkooijen Collection is set to become one the most important offerings of Curaçao currency at public auction, if not the most important offering ever. The collection boasts an incredible Serial Number 1 set for the 1918 and 1925 issue, each of which is enormously rare in any issued form, let alone featuring the first serial, as well as other museum-worthy inclusions.

Arguably one of the rarest issued world banknotes ever offered at Heritage Auctions, a spectacular Serial Number 1 Curaçao Curacaosche 500 Gulden 1925 Pick 14 PMG About Uncirculated 55 (estimate: $40,000+) is the first serial number of the highest denomination of the 1925 series. Of the 1,000 printed and issued, all but two have been redeemed, and this example, the crowning banknote of the 1925 Serial Number 1 series, is the lone example graded in the PMG Population Report at the time of cataloging.

Serial Number 1 Curaçao Curacaosche 500 Gulden 1925 Pick 14 PMG About Uncirculated 55
Serial Number 1 Curaçao Curacaosche 500 Gulden 1925 Pick 14 PMG About Uncirculated 55

A Serial Number 1 Curaçao Curacaosche Bank 250 Gulden 1918 Pick Unlisted PMG Uncirculated 62 (estimate: $40,000+) is likely the last of the original 400 examples that has not been redeemed. Featuring the lowest possible serial number – 001 – it is arguably the rarest banknote in existence, since it is the only extant example.

Serial Number 1 Curaçao Curacaosche Bank 250 Gulden 1918 Pick Unlisted PMG Uncirculated 62
Serial Number 1 Curaçao Curacaosche Bank 250 Gulden 1918 Pick Unlisted PMG Uncirculated 62

A Curaçao Curacaosche Bank 250 Gulden 1930 Pick 20 PMG Very Fine 30 (estimate: $8,000+) is the first date to feature the general design that ran from 1930 until the 1960s.

Curaçao Curacaosche Bank 250 Gulden 1930 Pick 20 PMG Very Fine 30
Curaçao Curacaosche Bank 250 Gulden 1930 Pick 20 PMG Very Fine 30

High-denomination Curaçao banknotes are notoriously rare, regardless of the series, and the offered note is one of only a few known to remain in private hands. This magnificent is so rare that just two examples are graded in the PMG Population Report.

Bruce Smart Collection

The Bruce Smart Collection is an exceptional A-Z offering with something for every collector — a well-curated array of world currency, with key rarities and superior grade being the focus. Angola and Ethiopia Serial Number 1s are featured, and fit well in this Serial Number 1-packed sale.

Highlights from the Bruce Smart Collection include, but are not limited to:

A Serial Number 1 Angola Banco De Angola 500 Angolares 1.6.1927 Pick 76a PMG Choice Uncirculated 63 (estimate: $7,000+) is the highest denomination of the series and happens to be incredibly scarce in issued format. Angola banknotes are increasingly popular in recent years, and exceedingly rare in high grade. The 1927 series is especially popular due to its stunning design elements and rarity. This example is graded Choice Uncirculated and is seen with the first serial number for prefix "1G." According to traceable auction data, this example may be only the third to cross a major auction block since 2003; only five issued examples are graded in the PMG Population Report.

Serial Number 1 Angola Banco De Angola 500 Angolares 1.6.1927 Pick 76a PMG Choice Uncirculated 63
Serial Number 1 Angola Banco De Angola 500 Angolares 1.6.1927 Pick 76a PMG Choice Uncirculated 63

An India Reserve Bank, Persian Gulf Issue 100 Rupees ND (1959-70) Pick R4 Jhunjhunwalla-Razack 6.12.4.1 PMG Choice Extremely Fine 45 (estimate: $6,000+) is an example of what was, for less than a decade, highest denomination banknote to circulate in Bahrain, Kuwait, Muscat, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates – similar to Bank of India 100 Rupees of the era, but printed in green and with prefix Z. This denomination has not been offered since 2017 at Heritage Auctions, and it rarely is seen in this excellent and lightly circulated grade. This exact banknote is the plate note for the type in the India chapter of Owen Linzmayer’s The Banknote Book.

India Reserve Bank, Persian Gulf Issue 100 Rupees ND (1959-70) Pick R4 Jhunjhunwalla-Razack 6.12.4.1 PMG Choice Extremely Fine 45
India Reserve Bank, Persian Gulf Issue 100 Rupees ND (1959-70) Pick R4 Jhunjhunwalla-Razack 6.12.4.1 PMG Choice Extremely Fine 45

An Ethiopia Bank of Ethiopia 500 Thalers 1.5.1932 Pick 11 PMG Choice Uncirculated 63 EPQ (estimate: $4,000+) is impressive in sheer size and face value. Preserved for 90 years, this is the single finest graded example in the PMG Population Report.

Ethiopia Bank of Ethiopia 500 Thalers 1.5.1932 Pick 11 PMG Choice Uncirculated 63 EPQ
Ethiopia Bank of Ethiopia 500 Thalers 1.5.1932 Pick 11 PMG Choice Uncirculated 63 EPQ

Other auction highlights include, but are not limited to:

A Serial Number 1 Curaçao Curacaosche Bank 250 Gulden 1925 Pick 13 PMG Choice About Unc 58 (estimate: $40,000+)

Serial Number 1 Curaçao Curacaosche Bank 250 Gulden 1925 Pick 13 PMG Choice About Unc 58
Serial Number 1 Curaçao Curacaosche Bank 250 Gulden 1925 Pick 13 PMG Choice About Unc 58

An Iraq Government of Iraq 5 Dinars 1.7.1931 Pick 4 PMG Very Fine 25 (estimate: $35,000+)

Iraq Government of Iraq 5 Dinars 1.7.1931 Pick 4 PMG Very Fine 25
Iraq Government of Iraq 5 Dinars 1.7.1931 Pick 4 PMG Very Fine 25

A Serial Number 1 Curaçao Curacaosche Bank 100 Gulden 1918 Pick Unlisted PMG Choice Uncirculated 63 (estimate: $30,000+)

A Serial Number 1 Curaçao Curacaosche Bank 25 Gulden 1918 Pick Unlisted PMG About Uncirculated 53 (estimate: $30,000+)

Serial Number 1 Curaçao Curacaosche Bank 25 Gulden 1918 Pick Unlisted PMG About Uncirculated 53
Serial Number 1 Curaçao Curacaosche Bank 25 Gulden 1918 Pick Unlisted PMG About Uncirculated 53

For images and information about all lots in the sale, visit HA.com/4036.

Heritage Auctions

Heritage Auctions is the largest fine art and collectibles auction house founded in the United States, and the world’s largest collectibles auctioneer. Heritage maintains offices in New York, Dallas, Beverly Hills, Chicago, Palm Beach, London, Paris, Geneva, Brussels, Amsterdam and Hong Kong.

Heritage also enjoys the highest Online traffic and dollar volume of any auction house on earth (source: SimilarWeb and Hiscox Report). The Internet’s most popular auction-house website, HA.com, has more than 1,500,000 registered bidder-members and searchable free archives of five million past auction records with prices realized, descriptions and enlargeable photos. Reproduction rights routinely granted to media for photo credit.

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Antonio

Definitely in a different vein from coins.

SENZA

First on Thread Like a True Champion – Antonio https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJJpRl2cTJc

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Rich

More than that, SENZA. Antonio sprang into action and captured First On for both of today’s news reports faster than a New York minute. Antonio earns a Hat Trick Daily Double for pulling it off

Last edited 11 months ago by Rich
Antonio

I learned from the best.

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SENZA

Your wish has been granted https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EI2jPGDTA6o

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Antonio

I saw them in concert in Oakland in ’79. Lots of energy there.

Rich

Its in SENZA’s hands now.

SENZA

I was just enjoying tonight’s headlines; the creepy lesbian Governor of Michigan failed to prove that anyone wanted to kidnap her and the Jury made it clear that they knew the FBI entrapped the accused.

Now if we can just get someone to arrest the Governor for stealing $8.5 Billion Dollars from the tax payer of Michigan this story will have the best ending.

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Jeff Legan

Hi Major D, As long as you (and others) correct misinformation where you see it and call out bad behavior neither will thrive on this site. Thank you for your efforts. As far as political or other real world topics go, I see nothing wrong with going off topic as long as all sides remain civil and respectful. There are not too many sites (if any) where such a thing is possible. It would be nice if that site was here. The views expressed here are the views of the coin collecting community, in all it’s diversity (if nothing else,… Read more »

SENZA

So, I’ve issued multiple awards and one of those being a multiple to Antonio, today – is there something I’m missing here?

If Antonio’s IP address turns out to be the same as you Sir Kaiser or Rich, I may feel somewhat foolish https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1tj2zJ2Wvg

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