Interest-bearing rarity highlights AIA auction

More than 1,100 lots will be on offer in Archives International Auctions’ December sale. The first session held on Tuesday, Dec. 6, will comprise near 600 lots of U.S. bank notes, scripophily and security printing ephemera. The second on Tuesday, Dec. 13 will include Chinese and other world bank notes and coins. Both sessions are being held at the AIA offices, 1580 Lemoine Avenue, Fort Lee, N.J. beginning at 10.30 a.m. EST.

The U.S. paper is headed by a choice rarity: a blank form for a U.S. Treasury interest-bearing $100 bill dated 183-. It could have been used for either P-18, P-22, or P-26, with the date and interest rate being hand-entered at the time of issue. This item was discovered in a bank clean out and nearly thrown away. This is the last available one of a sheet of three from the “Silver City Collection.” Graded PMG Choice Uncirculated 63 NET, it carries an estimate of $15,000-$25,000.

Another Silver City item comes in the shape of an obsolete Merchants’ Bank, N.Y., $5,000 proof, ca. 1830s. The highest denomination Haxby lists for this bank is $1,000. It comes with a $2,500-$5,000 estimate.

Chinese and other Asian notes dominate the world section of the catalog. Of particular interest is a discovery early 1930s communist paper money collection. Examples include:

• Hunan-Kiangsi Branch of National Bank of the Soviet Republic of China, one yuan 1934, VF-EF: $300-$500;

• Hunan-Kiangsi Branch of National Bank of the Soviet Republic of China, five fen, 1934, VF-good VF: $300-$500;

• National Bank of the Soviet Republic of China, one yuan 1933, P-S3259, EF: $350-$700;

• National Bank of the Soviet Republic of China, two jiao 1932, P-S3251A, EF: $500-$1,000.

Among other rare and desirable world notes are:

• Australia, £10 specimen, ND (ca.1954-59), P-32s, PCGS Very Fine 35 Apparent: $10,000- $15,000.

• Deutsch-Asiatische Bank, 1907, Peking, five taels remainder, P-S280r, PCGS Choice About New 55 Apparent: $12,500-$25,000.

• Imperial Bank of Persia, Jan. 1, 1896 specimen one toman, P-1bs, graded PCGS Choice About New 55 PPQ: $3,500-$4,000;

• Imperial Bank of Persia, ND (1912) specimen 20 tomans, P-5s, PCGS graded Choice New 63: $6,500-$8,000;

• Iraq, 10 dinars, P-20a, PMG Extremely Fine 40: $5,000-$6,000;

• Straits Settlements, $5, Jan. 1, 1929, P-10a, stamped CANCELLED, PCGS Very Fine 20: $4,000-$5,000;

• Malaya, $100, Jan. 1, 1942, P-15, PMG Choice Very Fine 35: $4,000-$6,000.

For the Caribbean collectors, how about a Dominican Republic Banco De La Compania De Credito De Puerto Plata, 1886 issued two pesos, P-S104a, of May 1866? The Standard Catalog of World Paper Money lists it solely as a specimen and unissued remainder. Presumably that on offer is unique. PMG graded Very Fine 25 NET with small tear on top left middle margin, it will go to the block with an estimate of $5,000-$10,000.

And those into New Zealand issues may wish to note that the sale includes a considerable range of scarce specimens both of Reserve Bank and trading bank issues.

Prospective bidders are advised to check out the information given here online at www.archivesinternational.com or email info@archivesinternational.com. Online bidding will be available through the website.

More Collecting Resources

• Order the Standard Catalog of World Paper Money, General Issues to learn about circulating paper money from 14th century China to the mid 20th century.

• Any coin collector can tell you that a close look is necessary for accurate grading. Check out this USB microscope today!