South Africa - Orange Free State pre Second Boer War (Anglo-Boer War) Post Office Post Noots (3) including 1 PoundPick S688 series A/1 04673, EF or about and very well preserved for its age this is the highest denomination for the Post Noots and the most Rarest and sought after due to its high denomination and lesser demand. To pay what is best read as G I Lest or Loots at Post Office Bloemfontein, entered hand stamp at left from Kroonstad, OVS dated 7th September 1898 and redemption stamp at right from post office Bloemfontein dated 1st October 1898. Along with other hand stamps on face from Bloemfontein and National Bank of South Africa, Johannesburg also a "BEETAALD" (PAID) stamp from the General Post Office of the Orange Free State. Uniface in olive-green and printed on watermarked paper with watermark reading Oranje Vrij Staat / Post Noot. Also, 10 Shillings Pick S685 series A/1 06190, EF with a pair of Pinholes to left upper body and faint signs of general wear, a very well preserved for its age and pleasing example. To pay what is best read as E. D. Moon or Moors at Post Office Bloemfontein this hand stamped not manuscript, entered hand stamp at left from Paris, O.V.S dated 27th February 1899 and redemption stamp at right from post office Bloemfontein dated 4th March 1899. No other hand stamps can be observed on this example. Uniface in violet and printed on watermarked paper with watermark reading Oranje Vrij Staat / Post Noot. Together with the 1 Shilling Pick S681 series A/1 02761, GVF or EF for type with very minor faint signs of general wear and a very well preserved for its age example. To pay B. G. Lennon & Co., Ltd. at Post Office Port Elizabeth, entered hand stamp at left from Bothaville, O.V.S dated 24th September 1898 and redemption stamp at right from post office Port Elizabeth dated 1st October 1898. Redemption signature with hand stamped B.G. Lennon & Co., Ltd. with title Managing Director. The reverse with a PAID hand stamp from General Post Office, Cape Town and a red post stamp for 1 Penny from Cape of Good Hopecancelled with the same hand stamp as redemption Port Elizabeth dated 1st October 1898. Uniface in green and printed on watermarked paper with watermark reading Oranje Vrij Staat / Post Noot. An interesting fact is that B. G. Lennon & Co., Ltd were a chemist and druggist business in Port Elizabeth established in 1850 by Barry Grey Lennon, an Irish chemist and nephew of the Governor of Cape of Good Hope - Sir George Grey. Their shops were to be found in most major towns in Cape Province, Natal, Orange Free State and Transvaal. In 1894 they became the first commercial pharmacy in Bulawayo and on 29th December 1898, Lennon Limited became a registered company. By 1930 the company had become the largest pharmaceutical business in the southern hemisphere and in the decades to follow Lennon Ltd was amalgamated by the South African Druggists group in an consolidation effort, then in 1968 South African Druggist joined the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and in 1999 it was acquired by Aspen in 1999 through a hostile takeover worth 2.4 million Rand which operates to this day and is the largest drug company in Africa.
Wales - Black Sheep Company Five Swilt Black Bull vignette an uncut sheet of 4 banknotes with consecutive numbers 136554 to 136557all with "Impress Stamping banned by the Lord Chamberlain" in green at edges, about UNC to UNC
France (9) 200 Francs 1992 issue Pick 155e (2) both Near Fine, 100 Francs (4) 1937 Pick 86a VG with some staple holes, 1938 Pick 86a VG with some staple holes at the left, 1974 Pick 149d VG with many pinholes, 1997 CezannePick 158a Fine, Twenty Francs 1997 Debussy issues (3) Pick 151i NVF to NEF
Ireland (Northern) Northern Bank Limited 1 PoundPick 178b (BY NI.601e; PMI NR 68) dated 1st January 1940 signature F. W. Walker single prefix type serial number N-I/H 028715, a fresh and crisp AU-UNC and a very Rare issue with a planned issuance of 100000 notes but most destroyed and only a small number of 6000 notes issued with recorded numbers of 000001 - 005000 and 028001-029000. A fabulous eye-catching note black and white with a blue value panel and a vignette of a plough, sailing ship and man at grindstone on obverse. The reverse features a blue guilloche panel with the Bank's monogram and established date flanked by values
Ireland (Northern) Bank of Ireland Second Northern Ireland Type C "Sterling" issue 10 PoundsPick 67b (BY NI.224b, PMI BA 121) ND 1985 signature D J Harrison and a first of the double prefix for this signature type and lower serial number AA 000115, otherwise this type starts at single letter prefix X with some stating even W 900001, a fresh and crisp UNC and very alluring in this high grade. These were the last issues for this design and introduced the word 'STERLING' below denomination at centre obverse and the '£' symbol was added to numerical values at corners. These changes made to reflect the end of the fixed exchange rate of par between the Irish Pound (Punt) and British Pound Sterling that took place in March 1979. A Thomas De La Rue engraving and printing but without imprint and in brown on multicolour featuring a statue of Hibernia at right and the well-recognized for the Bank - Medusa head at left with the row of the same head at upper centre with the exception that its now featured in the underprint. The reverse with various illustrations representing industry at centre of which is the Bank's building along with the Short Belfast - the heavy lift turboprop freighter plane with only 10 aircraft constructed, textile and thread rolls and the passenger ocean liner SS Canberra. An amazing 250 metre and 17 million Pounds liner that was named after the federal capital of Australia, Canberra and sponsored by the Dame Pattie Menzies, GBE, wife of the then Prime Minister of Australia - Robert Menzies. The ship entered service in 1961 and made her maiden voyage starting in June, operating on the combined P&O-Orient Line service between the United Kingdom and Australasia. So popular, the ship appeared in the 1971 James Bond film Diamonds Are Forever and in 1997 Gerard Kenny released the single "Farewell Canberra" which was specially composed for the last voyage, before it was withdrawn and sold to ship breakers for scrapping, and left for Gadani ship-breaking yard in Pakistan. Being such a solid construction, the scrapping process took a year instead of the planned 3 months. The ship also served as a troopship in the Falklands War being requisitioned by the MOD and quickly refitted for the purpose she sailed on 9th April 1982 travelling 9,000 nautical miles (17,000 km) away from the UK mainland and being put in the heart of the conflict she was nicknamed the Great White Whale.
South AfricaColonial Bank of Natal 5 Pounds Pick S432 dated 9th June 1862 Pietermaritzburg, Natal and a low number 058, manuscript signatures for Entered William Chapman titled Manager and 2 sets for the Board of Directors, VG and an Exceptionally Rare early note. Uniface in black and white with value wording in panel at lower left and bank title at upper centre below an illustration of a farm field with resting cow, windmill, wheat stack and the Bank's monogram in 3 bays of wool. Colony of Natal was a British colony in south-eastern Africa proclaimed as such on the 4th May 1843 after the British Government had annexed the Boer Republic of Natalia. On the 31st May 1910 it was combined with the other 3 colonies to form the Union of South Africa and it was the smallest of its provinces and very popular with its beaches, mountains and savannah densely populated with big game.
Scotland National Commercial Bank of Scotland Limited First issues (2) a very attractive pair both dated 16th September 1959 and signature D. Alexander comprising 5 PoundsPick 266 (BY SC611; PMS NC2; Douglas 2-1;) very last prefix for this type G 110517, presentable VF with a very minor 2mm marginal tear to lower right margin. Along with 20 PoundsPick 267 (PMS NC4; BY SC631; Douglas 3a-1) serial number A207793, Fine - VF with a 7mm uneven tear to right margin slightly extending to design but not affecting the note's general appearance and a Scarce short-lived issue with only 350.000 examples on record. Printed by Waterlow & Sons Limited and watermarked with Sir Alexander Henderson of Press , it had every note featuring an illustration of Forth Railway bridge until the final issue had a ship negotiating the wrong channel under the bridge, only corrected on the final £1 issue.
World (lot) mixed grades from Fine to UNC and a vast amalagamtaion of countries, issuers and dates circa early-mid 1900's to modern. Mostly from Europe including Britain, Ireland & the Channel islands, the Caribbean and Latin America, Canada, Africa including Egypt, the Middle and Far East. Some desiarable notes include a few George VI portrait issues as Malaya 10 Centes 1940, Canada 1 Dollar 1937 signatures Gordon & Towers, and others including Belgium100 Francs = 20 Belgas Pick 114 dated 4 November 1944, Ethipoia 1 Ethiopian Dollar ND 1945 signature Bennett, Lebanon 10 Livres 1986 with a BINARY serial number 90090, Scotland The Clydesdale Bank limited 1 Ppind Pick 189c dated 4th April 1945 signatures Mitchell & Young and a Seychelles5 Rupees 1968 QE2 Annigoni's portrait prefix A/1. The lot also comes with some US Contemporary copies of Confederate currency also known as 'Buble Gum' money and some GB Fule coupons
JerseyTreasury of the States 1 PoundPick 6a (BY JE6) World War II German Occupation Period note issued in April 1942 and June 1942 ND with the prefix JN only. This note bears the very LOW number of 200 and the signature H. J. Eraut titled Treasurer of the States of Jersey. The note in purple on green underprint featuring Jersey's Coat of Arms at upper left, the serial number in black and the prefix and signature embedded in the printing on obverse and the reverse illustrating Men with horse cart gathering seaweed. Thick Chain watermark. The Channel Islands have the unenviable distinction of the only British teritories to be occupied by the German Forces during the war and since change was in short supply, the Islanders issued their own currency and even used the German notes. It was not until 9th May 1945, day after Victory in Europe Day (also known as VE Day or V-E Day in North America), where freedom became reality for the Bailiwick of Jersey. UNC, pressed and Exceptionally Rare in this high grade considering the low printing of 11,000 notes. At the time of writing PMG has only 9 recorded examples on their Population Report
ScotlandIreland & The Channel Islands (37) in mixed grades Fine to UNC some scarcer issues include an Isle of Man Bank Limited 1 PoundPick 6b (BY IM3b) serial number J/3 3217. Guernsey 1 Pound Pick 45a (BY GU34a) serial number B011016 signature Guilemette. Scotland 10 PoundsPolymerReplacement ZZ issues Pick 371 (RB111ar). 5 Pounds Polymer Replacement ZZ issue Pick 370 (RB110r). Clydesdale Bank 5 Pounds Pick 229O (CL70a) First prefix for type and low numbered consecutive pair W/HS 000981 and W/HS 000981. 10 Pounds Pick 229Q (CL71a) First prefix for type W/HS 132962.1 Pounds Pick 211b (CL 41b) first prefix for type D/CE 094819 & D/CE 094820. 20 PoundsPick 229F (CL59) Commemorative issues (3) consecutive serial numbers A/ED 389033 - A/ED 389035. British Linen Bank 1 Pound Pick 169a (BL75) First prefix for type. National Commercial Bank of Scotland 1 Pound Pick 269a (NC6). Museum on The Mound Presentation folder Bank of Scotland Polymer notes Matched serial numbers Pair 5 and 10 Pounds serial numbers AA002523. Museum on The Mound Presentation folder Bank of Scotland Polymer note 5 serial number AA003449. Ireland Ulster Bank George Best Commemorative presentation pack. Lady Lavery 10 shillings and 1 Pound. Along with other regular issues
Jersey and Guernsey World War II German Scrip (Occupation) money both dated 7th July 1944, Feldkommandantur 515 Subordinate administrative headquarters headed by Oberst Schumacher (2) comprising 2 Reichsmark = 1 Penny serial number JGb *6314 black and blue on green underprint and 10 Reichsmark = 5 Pence black and blue on light blue underprint. The Feldkommandantur 515 arrived on 9 August 1940 in Jersey to establish a civil affairs command structure, and soon was to have a Nebenstelle in Guernsey and a Aussenstelle in Alderney. The German authorities changed the Channel Island time zone from GMT to CET to bring the islands into line with most of continental Europe, and the rule of the road was also changed to driving on the right. Scrip (Occupation money) were issued in the islands to keep the economy going. German military forces used the scrip for payment of goods and services. Locals employed by Germans were also paid in the Occupation Reichsmarks. The Germans allowed entertainment to continue including cinemas and theatre and their military bands performed in public. In 1944, the popular German film actress Lil Dagover arrived to entertain German troops in Jersey and Guernsey with a theatre tour to boost morale. Both notes stamped, UNC and seldom seen
GermanyJewish ghetto of Litzmannstadt, 20 marks Pick PO 565a dated 15th May 1940 serial 229005 GEF - about UNC with some spotting on reverse and rare in this high grade. Nazi Germany occupied Poland on September 1, 1939; Lodz was renamed Litzmannstadt and annexed to the German Reich. In February, the Germans forcibly relocated the large Jewish population into a sealed ghetto. All currency was confiscated in exchange for Quittungen [receipts] that could be exchanged only in the ghetto. The scrip was designed by the Judenrat [Jewish Council] and includes traditional Jewish symbols. The Germans closed the ghetto in the summer of 1944 by deporting the residents to concentration camps
Jersey & Herm Channel Islands (5) all in high grades EF to UNC comprising 1 Pounds mature H.M. Queen Elizabeth II (2) including 2 varieties Pick 15a (BY JE13) serial number FC416310 signature L. May upper right corner "£1" symbol blank outlined and Pick 20a (BY JE14a) serial number PC083179 signature George Baird upper right corner "£1" symbol now green and filled in. 5 Pounds mature Queen Elizabeth II 1993 issue Pick 21 (BY JE24a) serial number HC9693876 signature George Baird upper right corner "£5" symbol now filled in. 1 Pound SPECIMEN 2010 issue Pick 32s (similar to BY JE17) serial number CD000000 signature Ian Black. Along with Herm Island Trade Coupon for £1 made out to a Mr or Mrs Harding valid from 31st May 1957 to 7th June 1957 and a red Coat of Arms of Herm stamp for 6 pence is affixed at centre right with an oval embossed stamp over it and this discount trade coupon was issued to tourists for use at several establishments on the island. The coupon in black on green underprint with the Coat of Arms at centre left on obverse and the reverse depicting different illustrations of the island such as the inside of St. Tugual's chapel, Holidays (Women in bathing suits on beach), Agriclture (Cows in field) and Industry (Pottery shop with Master potter at work). Herm Island is located east of Guernsey. It is the smallest of the Channel Islands that is open to the public
Wales Black Bull vignette, 5 swilt, uncut sheet of 4 banknotes with consecutive numbers, "Impress Stamping banned by the Lord Chamberlain" in green at edges, about UNC to UNC
Channel Islands a collection of Guernsey and Jersey in an album Guernsey 10/- to £50 (21), Jersey 6d - £20 (17) many in high grade the Jersey group containing £10 Clennet Pick 10 four consecutive numbers
Please browse the results of our past auctions using the navigation tools above.
Or browse our previous auctions using our text-based directory
Sell or auction your banknote collection
With London Coins selling your material could not be easier. We offer free appraisals, probate valuations, house visits, free collection of bulky material from your home, immediate cash offers and an auctioneering service.
If you have material to sell we offer a straightforward and easy to follow service which gives you the option of consigning your material to auction, or selling it to us direct for cash.
For further details please see our How To Sell Your Coins page and request our information pack.
Buy World Banknotes
London Coins holds auctions every three months with a dedicated section for World Banknotes. This section covers paper money from all countries, we include here also Scottish and Irish notes as well as Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.
To receive the next London Coins auction catalogue join our mailing list.