PMG-certified Chinese 'Black Dragon' Note in Stack's Bowers Auction

A rare Qing Dynasty banknote certified by Paper Money Guaranty® (PMG®) is the top offering in an upcoming Stack’s Bowers Hong Kong currency auction. Bidding is already underway for the sale, which is being held April 5, 2021.

The China 1909 1 Yuan graded PMG 15 Choice Fine (lot 40234) represents the style of paper money produced near the end of China’s Imperial Era. On the front of the note, a pair of black dragons surround an image of a Kwangsi Dollar. Kwangsi (also known as Guangxi) is the province immediately to the northwest of Vietnam. This “Black Dragon” note is incredibly desirable to collectors of Chinese paper money and has an estimate of $100,000 to $200,000.

China 1909 1 Yuan graded PMG 15 Choice Fine Click images to enlarge.

The sale features hundreds of other PMG-certified world banknotes, including:

• a Canada, Merchants Bank of Canada 1919 $5 with Serial Number 1 graded PMG 40 Extremely Fine EPQ (lot 40368), with an estimate of $40,000 to $60,000
• a Pakistan ND (1950) 100 Rupees Specimen graded PMG 55 About Uncirculated (lot 40456), with an estimate of $30,000 to $50,000
• a Panama, Banco Central de Emision 1941 20 Balboas graded PMG 45 Choice Extremely Fine (lot 40465), with an estimate of $30,000 to $50,000
• a Japan, Bank of Japan ND (1945) 1,000 Yen graded PMG 65 Gem Uncirculated EPQ (lot 40400), with an estimate of $27,500 to $37,500
• a China, People’s Republic 1953 10 Yuan graded PMG 40 Extremely Fine (lot 40148), with an estimate of $20,000 to $25,000
• a China, Deutsche-Asiatische Bank 1907 25 Dollars Specimen graded PMG 35 Choice Very Fine (lot 40196), with an estimate of $20,000 to $30,000
• a Portuguese India, Banco Nacional Ultramarino 1938 50 Rupias graded PMG 25 Very Fine (lot 40488), with an estimate of $20,000 to $30,000
• a Panama, Banco Central de Emision 1941 5 Balboas graded PMG 63 Choice Uncirculated (lot 40463), with an estimate of $17,500 to $25,000
• a China, Deutsche-Asiatische Bank 1907 50 Dollars Specimen graded PMG 35 Choice Very Fine (lot 40197), with an estimate of $15,000 to $25,000
• a China, Banque Industrielle de Chine 1915 10 Dollars graded PMG 35 Choice Very Fine (lot 40206), with an estimate of $10,000 to $15,000

All estimates are provided by the auction house.