Nilaish Paper Money Collection

Nilaish Paper Money Collection

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Rare 1892 Creede Bank $5 note sells for US$ 102,000!

National Bank of Creede, 1892, $5, sold by Bonhams in 2012 for staggering US$ 102,000
Image Courtesy:  Bonhams

Bonhams situated at London was established in 1793 and is recognized as a very reputed auctioneer of rare collectibles in the world. In their auction held in 2012, it was estimated that the above banknote will sell between US$ 70,000 and 90,000 by its experts. The note was bought by a private collector from California who specializes in Colorado banknotes for US$ 102,000 after bidding activity (Reported by Steve Raabe denverpost.com)

This was assumed by the experts at Bonhams that, this the only specimen of Creede Bank which has survived till today. The note is graded VF35 PPQ by PCGS. The bank failed after three years of the operation and banknotes were not issued after that. These banknotes were earliest version of Federal Reserve notes what we experience today. The above banknote was signed by John McDonough PR, J.W. Merritt (cashier). This note represents an unbelievable find for collectors. The First National Bank of Creede, Colorado was chartered March 29, 1892, the date of issue on this note, and only existed until December 31, 1895 when it was liquidated as a result of the silver crash in 1893. This is the only known example of any National Bank Note from Creede, it presents with bank serial number 1 and is accompanied with a paper envelope stating: "FIRST BILL ISSUED AT THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CREEDE." An amazing discovery by Bonhams!

Thursday, July 25, 2013

Biggest Collector of Indian Banknotes discovers unknown signature on a note!

5 Rupees, Green underprint, Dated: 1st September 1888, Circle of Issue: Madras
Signed by I.W. Rawlins, shown to the Numismatic World by Avid Collector Rezwan Razack. 
Image Curtsey: Rezwan Razack, Bangalore.

Many collectors keep years in waiting for such a great occasion of finding something original like this. Mr Rezwan Razack, the biggest collector of Indian Banknotes discovered this wonderful delight for the Indian paper money collectors this week. He has the most unique collection of Indian Banknotes ever seen together. He owns every single currency note ever printed for public use since 1812. This find is about an unknown signatory on Uniface notes. He shared the name of the signatory, I.W. Rawlins. In my entire collecting career of more than 15 years, I have not seen any note signed by him. I congratulate him for this pioneering success and authority on Indian Banknotes. I would consider this as rare note indeed!  

Wednesday, July 3, 2013

1929 Rare Palestinian 100 palestine pounds note was sold for £65,000 at London

1929, Palestine Currency Board, 100 Palestine Pounds, Extremely rare,
Sold for £65,000 by SPINK at London Auctions. 
Curtsey: SPINK 

April 11, 2013 - SPINK World Banknote Auctions (London):

The above extremely rare 100 Palestine Pounds note of 1929 was auctioned by SPINK at London for £65,000. The estimate in the catalogue was between £80,000 - £120,000. This specimen of 100 pounds was issued on 30 September 1929  with red serial A 000000 by the Palestine Currency Board. The note is in green colour with the White Tower at Ramleh at left and signed by Sir John Caulcutt, Sir Percy Ezechiel and H. F. Downie, the members of the Palestine Currency Board. This note was purchased by an Arab buyer as reported in news . It is remarkable to note that only 5 examples are known to exist of 100 pounds note. It is certainly a great accomplishment for the buyer. 


A 1909 Chinese banknote of face value of 10p was sold for over £80,000!

"In c.1909 the Qing dynasty restructured both the Imperial banks and the issuing authorities to establish the Kwangsi Bank. In the modern history of Chinese banknotes Kwangxi became the earliest province to have a bank. At that time, Xuan Tong Year 2 (1909), Kwangsi Bank issued their banknotes known to the Nan-Ning people as the "Ooi-Long note". This literally means black dragon note, and is highly sought after by collectors. The "Ooi-Long Note" was printed in Japan, with a print run of two hundred thousand for the 1 yuan denomination and two hundred thousand pieces for the 5 yuan denomination. According to a press release in Nan-Ning dated 9 June 2006, a collector chanced upon one of these rare examples of a $5 note in a Nan-Ning market place in April 1994, purchasing it at a very high price. The note was subsequently repurchased by Chinese officials." 
Source: Nutmegcollector (USA) 


1909, Kwangsi Bank, 1 Yuan banknote, Extremely rare, 
Sold for over £80,000 at Spink Hong Kong Sale in 2010.
Curtsey: SPINK

The above extremely rare 1 yuan note dates back to 1909 and was the first of its type to be available for public purchase after being produced by the Kwangsi bank. It features 2 black dragons signifying the prowess of the Emperor and Monarch and accordingly named as the "Ooi-Long note", in the middle "Xuan Tong Yuan Bao". To date, only 3 examples of this rare note have been discovered and as the Kwangsi bank was reorganised in 1911 not many are likely to still exist. The note, sold at an auction by Spink, was snapped up by a Taiwanese Collector - who must remember not to take it to the bureau de change otherwise it will be taken again by the government. A magnificent example and tempting story indeed!

Source: SPINK HONG KONG SALE 2010.