Pair of Icelandic notes share Knight sale spotlight
Lyn Knight’s recent Kansas world auction came heavily seasoned with an assortment of rarities from around the globe. Top-equal price in the mid-November sale went to a Nederlands Nieuw-Guinea 100…
Lyn Knight’s recent Kansas world auction came heavily seasoned with an assortment of rarities from around the globe.
Top-equal price in the mid-November sale went to a Nederlands Nieuw-Guinea 100 gulden of 8 December 1954 (P-16a). This is the Queen Juliana issue, and it was the first time Knight had offered this seldom-seen denomination. Graded PMG XF40, the note on offer is the best of three in the PMG population report. On an estimate of $9,500-13,500, it had no problem in realizing $10,800.
That price was matched by a rare Icelandic 1 rigsdaler of 1798 (P-A5c) printed on the back of a Danish 1 rigsdaler courant (P-A28) and issued in Iceland by Courant Bank while under Danish Administration. It bears the security handstamp ‘B’ within a circle. Neither Sieg nor the Standard Catalog of World Paper Money list a 1798 date for this overstamp. Apart from a couple of tears at left and some areas of foxing, the note was complete and in bright, clear gF condition.
From Banco de Portugal Agencia no Funchal came a 100 reis of 3 February 1892 (P-12) - the highest denomination of the Casa da Moeda series. In a desirable XF/AU condition and with a purple three-line overstamp, it was bid up to $8,400 on a conservative $1,500-3,000 estimate.
Other high-grade, desirable-but-scarce lots included a first issued date British West African Currency Board 1916 2 shillings in choice VF/XF (P-2). It sold for twice upper estimate, fetching $5,100. Similarly, an Iran Bank of Meli 500 rials of AH 1311 (P-25a) took $4,500, or over twice upper estimate, in PMG XF40. And an UNC Banque de Syrie et du Liban 100 livres specimen of 1 July 1949 (cf. P-67) had no difficulty in making $4,200.
Caribbean issues proved in demand. A Belize $20 false color specimen (P-20cs) realized $1,920 in UNC; an issued Belize $10 (P-48b) also took $1,920 in WBG Gem UNC 65 TOP; and a British Honduras 1952 $5 (P-26b) easily fetched $5,100 graded PCGS Very Choice New 64 PPQ.
WWII paper money aficionados would no doubt have been chasing a Federal Regime of the Yugoslav Democratic Federation Cetinje 10 dinara of 1 January 1945 (P-S101). Just 20-25 examples are believed extant, and it is difficult to understand the valuations in SCWPM. Given the lot’s VF/XF grade, the price realized of $3,300 is understandable.
Full details of sale lots and prices realized can be found at www.lynknight.com. A buyers’ premium of 20% has been added to the prices cited above but is not included in the hammer prices given on the Knight website.
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