The most expensive Australian Banknote!

1913 10 Shillings banknote

Image Curtesy: Talismancoins.com

The first Australian currency note, bearing the ten shilling denomination, celebrates its centennial in 2013 as the most valuable pieces of Australian numismatic history in existence. The 10 shilling note, with the serial number M000001, was issued on May 1, 1913. The official numbering ceremony took place at the government printing works, which was then located at the King’s Warehouse at the western end of Flinders Street in Melbourne. The serial number was printed on the note by means of a hand-operated press by the Honourable Judith Denman, the five-year-old daughter of then Governor General Lord Denman. The note was then presented by Prime Minister Andrew Fisher to little Judith. And then the note disappeared from history, not to see the light of day for nearly 90 years! Other face values from £1 to £1,000 followed during the years 1913–1915, but the 10 shilling was the very first denomination - and the serial number M000001 the very first of these!

Judith later moved to England, but apparently recognized the importance of her keepsake. She kept the 10 shilling note in pristine condition, hidden inside an envelope. Judith lived a long life, passing away in 1987. Still, it was another 12 years before a relative was sorting through Judith's old belongings.This historic banknote was acquired by an extremely well-heeled private collector in Sydney for AUS $1 million in 2000. It then sold at auction in 2008 for AUS $1.9 million.On May 1st, 2013 - exactly 100 years to the day after it was printed and issued - Australia's very first commonwealth banknote was offered for sale for an asking price of AUS $3,500,000.

The note was the initiative of the prime minister of the day, Fisher, and his Labor government, who wanted post-colonial Australia to have a better sense of national identity. In their day, the paper 10 shilling notes were known as "Fisher's flimsies". Fisher's other nation-building initiatives included the establishment of a government-owned bank, the Commonwealth Bank, the introduction of Commonwealth postage, and the founding of the capital Canberra. 

Reference: new.com.au 

1891 $1,000 Treasury note was sold for US$ 2.5 million at Heritage Auctions

The only known example of 1891 $1,000 treasury note with the portrait of General Meade 

Image Courtesy: Paul Fraser Collectibles Ltd. 

In a signature auction of Heritage Auctions (USA's leading auction house of collectibles) held between 24th April and 28th April 2013; Heritage sold this banknote for US$ 2.5 million. It is recorded as the unique banknote in the auction and bid was opened at US$ 1.2 million. The only other example is reported to be housed in the National Numismatic Collection of the Smithsonian Institution. As the museum was lucky enough, as it was transferred there by the treasury department shortly after printing. The 1891 $1,000 note  has similar basic design features with the famous "Grand Watermelon" note of 1890, which is well-known among collectors, despite being the more common of the two notes. A spectacular example of the note once held the previous US world record, after selling for US$2.2 million at Heritage Auctions back in 2006.  Another example of the Grand Watermelon sold for US$1.5 million in the present auction, as one of only seven examples known to exist. The 1891 note features a striking vignette of General Meade, who is noted for taking control of the Army of the Potomac on the eve of the US civil war's Battle of Gettysburg. He was once described as "a damned old goggle-eyed snapping turtle" and was renowned for his bad temper, which the engraver has certainly portrayed on the note.

Source: Paul Fraser Collectibles Ltd.