Collections Lead Heritage Sale
by Tracy Schmidt There were many notes included in Heritage Auctions’ December4 – 6 World Paper Money Signature Auction. The auction included notes from the banknote collections of Ma Tak…
by Tracy Schmidt
There were many notes included in Heritage Auctions’ December4 – 6 World Paper Money Signature Auction. The auction included notes from the banknote collections of Ma Tak Wo and Yuri Solovey.The collections featured pieces from China and the Banque de l’Indochine.
The auctioned notes from French Indochina seem to indicate the market is pretty stable since many notes fell solidly within the estimate. One strong performer that placed above estimate was lot 26009 that consisted of two French Indochina, Saigon 1 Piastre ND (1903-09), Banque de l’Indo-Chine notes with grades PMG Very Fine 20 Net; PCGS Very Fine 30. The lot of two was estimated at $500-$700 and brought in a realized price of $2,520.
Two other notes that caught my eye were lot 26062 and lot 26132. Lot 26062 was a French Indochina, Institut d’Emission des Etats du Cambodge, du Laos et du Viet-Nam, Cambodia Issue 200 Piastres = 200 Riels banknote with an elephant watermark PMG graded 63 Choice Uncirculated. The front features an elephant at left and two water buffaloes at right and has signature #17. The back features Bayon head (Angkor) at left and a branching tree at right. Estimated at $1,000 to $1,250, the note realized $1,020.
An attractive Institut d'Emission des Etats du Cambodge, du Laos et du Viet-Nam, Cambodia Issue 200 Piastres = 200 Riels (P 98) banknote featuring an adorned elephant and a pair of water buffaloes graded PMG 63 Choice Uncirculated realized $1,020. Images courtesy of Heritage Auctions
The second note, lot 26132, was a Tahiti 1.3.1926, Banque de l’Indochine 500 Francs graded at PMG Choice About Unc 58. The front of the note depicts a standing woman at left. There are ships at top center and the note has signature titles of LE DIRECTEUR and UN ADMINISTRATEUR. The back depicts ship scenes at center and a woman at right. Estimated at $3,000-$4,000, the bank note realized $3,600.
A lovely dark purple Tahiti (P 13a), 1.3.1926, Banque de l'Indochine 500 Francs graded at PMG Choice About Unc 58 sold for $3,600.
There were also many interesting notes from China up for auction. Offered in lot 26477 was a 1951 People’s Bank of China 10,000 Yuan (Pick 858Aa S/M#C282) bank note graded PMG Very Fine 25 Net. The note front depicts a herdsman with horses. The back of the note bears the denomination. Estimated at $135,000 to $160,000, the note realized $153,600.
The cultural depiction of a herdsman with horses helped drive this 1951 People’s Bank of China note 10,000 Yuan PMG Very Fine 25 Net graded to realize $153,600.
Lot 26436 offered a nice remainder note.The Sin Chun Bank of China, Shanghai 10 Dollars 1908 S/M #H186-3a note was graded by PCGS as Superb Gem New 68PPQ. Estimated at $8,000 to $12,000, the note fell within estimate reaching a price of $10,500.
A solid Sin Chun Bank of China, Shanghai 10 Dollars 1908 S/M #H186-3a remainder note graded by PCGS as Superb Gem New 68PPQ sold at auction for $10,500.
Lot 26458 is a 1941, 500 Yuan note from the Bank of China (Pick 97a S/M#C294-266) with a PMG grade of Choice Uncirculated 63. The front of the note features Sun Yat-sen. The back of the note features the Celestial Temple at bottom. Estimated at $2,200 to $2,600, the note realized a price of $2,640.
This sharp-looking 1941, 500 Yuan note from the Bank of China (Pick 97a S/M#C294-266) depicting Sun Yat-sen with a PMG grade of Choice Uncirculated 63 realized $2,640.
An authoritative Germania holding a spear and shield grace the front of this 1.3.1907 Deutsch-Asiatische Bank, Hankow 25 Dollars (Pick S264s S/M#T101-4a) graded PMG Choice Uncirculated 64. The note was a bargain, landing under its estimate at a realized price of $21,600.
Specimen bank note lot 26515 was a 1.3.1907 Deutsch-Asiatische Bank, Hankow 25 Dollars (Pick S264s S/M#T101-4a) graded PMG Choice Uncirculated 64. The perforated “DRUCKPROBE” note front depicts eagle arms at upper left, facing Chinese dragons at lower left, and features Germania with a shield and spear at right. The back of the note depicts the denomination and red specimen overstamp. Estimated at $35,000 to $55,000, the note was a bargain with a selling price of $21,600.
To see more realized prices from this auction, visit www.ha.com.
