Collection of PMG-certified Curacao Notes Realizes Over $700,000 in Heritage Sale

Three rare Curacao banknotes with Serial Number 1 certified by Paper Money Guaranty® (PMG®) claimed the top spots in Heritage’s Netherlands World Banknote Signature sale on April 22, 2022. The notes are from the Mathis Verkooijen Collection, which included 44 lots in the sale that together realized $721,080, or over $16,000 per lot.

A Curacao / Dutch Administration 1925 500 Gulden with Serial Number 1 graded PMG 55 About Uncirculated (lot 25447) realized $96,000 — leading the entire sale. This banknote is the only example recorded in the PMG Population Report.

Curacao / Dutch Administration 1925 500 Gulden with Serial Number 1 graded PMG 55 About Uncirculated. Realized: $96,000 Click images to enlarge.

Meanwhile, a Curacao / Dutch Administration 1918 250 Gulden with Serial Number 1 graded PMG 62 Uncirculated (lot 25432) realized $63,000. It was one of 17 notes with Serial Number 1 from the collection offered in the sale.

Curacao / Dutch Administration 1918 250 Gulden with Serial Number 1 graded PMG 62 Uncirculated. Realized: $63,000 Click images to enlarge.

Lastly, a Curacao / Dutch Administration 1925 250 Gulden with Serial Number 1 graded PMG 58 Choice About Uncirculated (lot 25546) did not trail far behind. It realized $55,200. These three notes are the most expensive ones that Heritage has offered from the Dutch Caribbean colony north of Venezuela.

Curacao / Dutch Administration 1925 250 Gulden with Serial Number 1 graded PMG 58 Choice About Uncirculated. Realized: $55,000 Click images to enlarge.

Mathis Verkooijen Collection

The Mathis Verkooijen Collection is one of the most important and exceedingly rare collections of Dutch Caribbean currency. It includes a complete denominational set of Curacao 1918 and 1925 banknotes with Serial Number 1.

Other PMG-certified highlights featured in the sale included:

• A Kingdom of Persia, Imperial Bank 1890-1923 20 Tomans Specimen graded PMG 64 Choice Uncirculated (lot 25573) that realized $57,600
• a Curacao / Dutch Administration 1925 50 Gulden with Serial Number 1 graded PMG 58 Choice About Uncirculated and pedigreed to the Mathis Verkooijen Collection (lot 25444) that realized $43,200
• a Curacao / Dutch Administration 1918 100 Gulden with Serial Number 1 graded PMG 63 Choice Uncirculated and pedigreed to the Mathis Verkooijen Collection (lot 25431) that realized $40,800
• a Curacao / Dutch Administration 1925 100 Gulden with Serial Number 1 graded PMG 58 Choice About Uncirculated and pedigreed to the Mathis Verkooijen Collection (lot 25445) that realized $38,400
• an Egypt, National Bank 1899 50 Piastres graded PMG 30 Very Fine (lot 25483) that realized $33,600
• a Curacao / Dutch Administration 1930 500 Gulden graded PMG Very Fine 25 NET (lot 45454) that realized $33,600
• an East Africa, Currency Board 1921 10,000/- Shillings = 500 Pounds Specimen graded PMG 63 Choice Uncirculated (lot 25480) that realized $28,800

All prices realized include buyer’s premium.