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Canada leads Stack’s Bowers at NYINC

High-grade Canadian notes took first, second, and third top prices at Stack’s Bowers’ NYINC World Paper Money Sale in early January.

 A young George V features on the top-selling Government of Newfoundland 1920 1 dollar (NF-12d) from Stack’s Bowers’ NYINC sale in January. The note took $26,400 in fabulous PCGS Gem New 66 PPQ condition. (Image courtesy Stack’s Bowers)

A young George V features on the top-selling Government of Newfoundland 1920 1 dollar (NF-12d) from Stack’s Bowers’ NYINC sale in January. The note took $26,400 in fabulous PCGS Gem New 66 PPQ condition. (Image courtesy Stack’s Bowers)

Top dollar was paid for the finest-known Government of Newfoundland 1 dollar of 1920 (NF-12d). That year, the surging world price of silver saw the British colony experience a major shortage of silver coin. The government plugged the gap by issue of a short-lived series of $1 and $2 Newfoundland Treasury Notes. Come 1939, some 99% of these had been redeemed and destroyed. They are scarce items today. Those in grades above VF are rare.

That on offer came in a wonderful PCGS Gem New 66 PPQ, which pushed the price tag to $26,400, or over 20 times the current Standard Catalog of World Paper Money valuation.

 Dominion of Canada dollar of 1898 (DC-13a), which realized $25,200 in a most desirable PMG Gem Uncirculated 66 EPQ grade. (Image courtesy Stack’s Bowers)

Dominion of Canada dollar of 1898 (DC-13a), which realized $25,200 in a most desirable PMG Gem Uncirculated 66 EPQ grade. (Image courtesy Stack’s Bowers)

Not far behind came a Dominion of Canada dollar of 1898 (DC-13a) of similar grade: PMG Gem Uncirculated 66 EPQ. This is the one whose face features lumberjacks flanked by the Countess and Earl of Aberdeen. The reverse shows an inward curved ONE. Of the 200 examples of DC-13 certified by PMG, only two have been certified as uncirculated. This is the sole example with the inward ONE, which explains why one collector was happy to pay $25,200 to provide it with a new and caring home.

 Queen Alexandra helped this Imperial Bank of Canada $50 specimen of 1907 (CH-375-12-16S) achieve $19,200, or well over twice upper estimate. (Image courtesy Stack’s Bowers)

Queen Alexandra helped this Imperial Bank of Canada $50 specimen of 1907 (CH-375-12-16S) achieve $19,200, or well over twice upper estimate. (Image courtesy Stack’s Bowers)

Queen Alexandra, wife of Edward VII, stars on an Imperial Bank of Canada $50 specimen of 1907 (CH-375-12-16S) printed by Waterlow and Sons. The note is excessively rare, and given Her Majesty’s PMG About Uncirculated 53 grade, the price of $19,200 – or well in excess of twice upper estimate – was not unsurprising.

Two specimen groups realized in excess of $15,000. The first came from Bahrain and consisted of an unadopted 1-20 dinar series proposed for 1973 (P-UNL). It made $16,800. The second was from Colombia and comprised 1-500 pesos oro dated 20 July 1923 (P-361s-367s). It sold over estimate for $15,600.

 WWI rarity: Gibraltar Series B pound of 1914 (P-8) that sold for $13,200 despite its PCGS Currency Fine 15 grade complete with edge splits and small tears. (Image courtesy Stack’s Bowers)

WWI rarity: Gibraltar Series B pound of 1914 (P-8) that sold for $13,200 despite its PCGS Currency Fine 15 grade complete with edge splits and small tears. (Image courtesy Stack’s Bowers)

Other high rollers included a magnificent British Palestine 10 pounds specimen (P-9s) in PMG Choice Uncirculated 64 Net. It took an easy $14,400. A German East Africa 500 rupien of 1912 (P-5) sold above estimate for $13,200 in PMG Very Fine 30 Net. And an extremely rare Gibraltar Series B pound of 1914 (P-8) also went above estimate for $13,200, graded PCGS Currency Fine 15 albeit with small edge splits and tears.

Detailed descriptions and prices realized may be found at the Stack’s Bowers website: www.stacksbowers.com.

This article was originally printed in Bank Note Reporter. >> Subscribe today.


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